The Production of Xylitol,l-Arabinitol and Ribitol by Yeasts

Abstract

The polyalcohol production from the pentoses such as d-xylose, l-arabinose and d-ribose by various genera and species of yeasts was examined. Candida polymorpha dissimilated aerobically these three pentoses and produced xylitol from d-xylose, l-arabinitol from l-arabinose and ribitol from d-ribose at good yield of 30~40% of sugar consumed. The result suggests that these polyalcohols would be major products from pentoses by yeasts, but some unidentified minor polyalcohols were also produced.