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Electronic Journal of Biotechnology
Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
ISSN: 0717-3458
Vol. 10, No. 1, 2007, pp. 1-8
Bioline Code: ej07006
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge

Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2007, pp. 1-8

 en Growth of Cunninghamella elegans check for this species in other resources UCP 542 and production of chitin and chitosan using yam bean medium
Stamford, Thayza Christina Montenegro; Stamford, Tânia Lucia Montenegro; Stamford, Newton Pereira; Neto, Benicio de Barros & de Campos-Takaki, Galba Maria

Abstract

Microbiological processes were used for chitin and chitosan productions by Cunninghamella elegans check for this species in other resources (UCP 542) grown in a new economic culture medium. The assay was carried out to evaluate the growth of C. elegans using yam bean ( Pachyrhizus erosus L. check for this species in other resources Urban) medium, in different times of growth (24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs), incubated at 28°C in an orbital shaker at 150 rpm. The lyophilized biomass was determined by gravimetry. The polysaccharides were extracted by alkali-acid treatment, and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, titration and viscosity. C. elegans grown in the yam bean medium and produced higher yields of biomass (24.3 g/ mL) in 96 hrs. The high level was chitosan (66 mg/g), and chitin (440 mg/g) were produced at 48 and 72 hrs of growth, respectively. The polysaccharides showed degree of deacetilation and viscosimetric molecular weight as: 6.2% and 3.25 x104 g/mol for chitin, and 85% and 2.72 x 104 g/mol for chitosan, respectively. The results obtained suggest high biotechnological potential of yam bean as an economic source to produce chitin and chitosan by C. elegans. In addition, the new medium using yam bean for production of the chitin and chitosan may be used for many purposes to reduce the cost price of fermentation processes.

Keywords
biopolymers, chitin, chitosan, Cunninghamella elegans, Zygomycetes.

 
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