African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (23), pp. 2700-2707, 3 December 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

The utilization of the response surface methodology for the optimization of cultivation medium and growth parameters in the cultivation of the yeast strain S.cerevisiae 3.20 on ethanol

O. Popa*, Narcisa Babeanu, A. Vamanu and E. Vamanu

Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 59 Marasti Bld., Bucharest - 011464 Romania.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ovid_popa@yahoo.com. Tel: 0040 723693654. Fax: 0040 21 3203752.

Accepted 8 November, 2007

A mutant strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae growing on ethanol as single source of carbon and energy was used in optimization experiments at laboratory and micropilot scale, following the surface response methodology. The cultivation medium optimization was performed on the basis of maximization of dry cell weight and the process parameters optimization on the basis of substrate yield maximization.

Key words:  Ethanol, optimization, response surface methodology, yeast.