PREPARATION OF XYLITOL BY FERMENTATION OF A HYDROLYZATE OF HEMICELLULOSE OBTAINED FROM SUGAR-CANE BAGASSE

Fermentation of a hydrolyzate of hemicellulose prepared from sugarcane bagasse was carried out using the yeast Candida guilliermondii. Glucose and xylose were simultaneously utilized and after 48 hours, 17.6 g/L of xylitol was present in the medium, cor responding to 55.6% of the theoretical, based on xylose. Although the low final xylitol concentration was low due to the low initial xylose concentration, it should be possible to enhance it using hi drolyzates with a higher xylose content.