Optimization of fermentation conditions for astaxanthin production by marine Phaffia rhodozyma RP-306
To improve the yield of astaxanthin produced by Phaffia rhodozyma RP-306,fermentation conditions were optimized through single-factor and response surface methodology.Moreover,a single-factor experiment was designed for each factor during fermentation.First,initial values of six factors,including sucrose,yeast powder,ammonium sulfate,pH,temperature,and liquid volume,were determined by a single-factor experiment.Second,the Plackett-Burman design was employed to screen out influential factors,such as sucrose,pH,and temperature.The steepest climbing experiment was utilized to determine the reasonable range of the three factors.Finally,optimal fermentation conditions were obtained by central composite design in response surface methodology.The final re-sults were as follows:sucrose 29.93 g/L,yeast powder 2.0 g/L,ammonium sulfate 5.0 g/L,pH 5.27,and tempera-ture 19.9℃.Under these conditions,astaxanthin yield increased from 13.46 to 17.04 mg/L,which was 26.61%higher than that before optimization.Moreover,astaxanthin yield reached 28.86 mg/L via batch fermentation in a 5.0-L fermenter,which encouraged further fermentation scale-up research.