Xylo-oligosaccharides enriched yeast protein feed production from reed sawdust

The aim of this study was to convert the cellulose and hemicellulose, in reed sawdust from the pulp mills, into yeast protein and xylo-oligosaccharide, then functionalize xylo-oligosaccharide as yeast feed. Both synchronous saccharification and fermentation and separate hydrolysis and fermentation of cellulase and Candida utilis were investigated to produce protein feed. By optimizing the fermentation conditions, 6.1 g/L of protein with 76.1% (7.1 g/L) xylo-oligosaccharide as the sugar was obtained. The final glucan and xylan utilization efficiencies in reed sawdust were 85.45% and 91.03%, respectively. Xylo-oligosaccharide enriched yeast protein feed from reed sawdust was thus realized by pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and synchronous saccharification and fermentation.