Large-scale production of astaxanthin by Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous

Astaxanthin that may be used as a food additive is a main carotenoid pigment in red yeast, Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous. Batch fermentations of astaxanthin at 50 1 and 10 m(3) scale were investigated, while the results of 10 m(3) scale fermentation show that the astaxanthin concentration in broth and the astaxanthin content in cells reached the maximum of 52.32 mg l(-1) and 2.57 mg g(-1) dry cell at 156 h, respectively.