By-products of sugar factories and wineries as feedstocks for erythritol generation

Erythritol – a polyol suitable for human nutrition is industrially produced by microorganisms from costly glucose-rich or starch-rich feedstocks. However, the utilization of sugary by-products food industries could significantly reduce process costs. This study examined erythritol production sugarcane molasses, beet molasses and surplus grape musts, comparing four fungal strains. Beet presented toxic effects on microorganisms, which hampered to certain extent. Moniliella pollinis attained yields 0.239 ± 0.001 g/g (106.40 0.42 g/L erythritol), 0.229 0.003 (57.78 1.52 g/L), 0.362 0.005 red must (96.26 1.31 g/L) 0.383 0.004 rosé (92.84 0.98 with nearly total sugar consumption in 6–9 days. In comparison, control tests valuable feedstock (beet syrup) reached 0.327 0.009 (126.78 3.21 g/L). Therefore, be considered as viable route aiming at market diversification.