ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the batch fermentative production of pullulan using jaggery, as a carbon substrate, evaluation of kinetic parameters, and statistical optimization of process variables for effective production of pullulan. It focuses on the suitability of using jaggery as an effective and cheaper carbon substrate for the maximum production of exopolysaccharides, pullulan by Aureobasidium pullulans. The chapter indicates that jaggery is an alternative carbon substrate source for melanin-free pullulan production by A. pullu- lans. The precipitated pullulan from each flask, at the end of fermentation was characterized to compare the quality of pullulan obtained from sucrose and jaggery media. In addition to carbon substrates, nitrogen-rich substrates also play important role in pullulan production. Further, to test the appropriateness of fermentation data, kinetic models were developed and fitted the results of comprehensive biomass growth and pullulan formation. The structural characterization of pullulan was carried out using Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy and IR spectra were recorded with Shimadzu IRTracer-100 FTIR spectrophotometer.
