Downstream processing of mannosylerythritol lipids produced by Pseudozyma aphidis

Pseudozyma aphidis DSM 14930 was used for the bioreactor production of mannosylerythritol lipids (MEL). A scheme is presented for the isolation and purification of MEL by using different solvents. Adsorption experiments of MEL at Amberlite XAD resins were performed. Up to 93% (wt-%) MEL could be transferred from the culture suspension into a newly formed, highly viscous solid phase by heating the culture suspension to ≥100 °C. This phase contained on average 87% (wt-%) MEL and could be simply isolated by pouring off the supernatant, without producing solvent waste.