In a glycolipid fermentation, mannosyl erythritol lipid (MEL) is produced from soybean oil added to a medium as a source of carbon. A measurement system for the concentrations of MEL and soybean oil in the fermentation process has been developed using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. MEL and soybean oil in the culture broth were extracted with ethyl acetate. NIR spectra of the ethyl acetate extract were measured in the wavelength range between 400 and 2500 nm at 2 nm intervals. The absorption caused by MEL was observed at 1436, 1920 and 2052 nm. To obtain a calibration equation, a multiple linear regression (MLR) was carried out between the second derivative NIR spectral data at 2040 and 1312 nm and MEL concentrations obtained using thin-layer chromatography with a flame-ionisation detector (TLC/FID) method. The values of the regression coefficient (R) and the standard error of calibration (SEC) were 0.994 and 0.48 g L⁻¹, respectively. The absorption caused by soybean oil was observed at 1208, 1716, 1766, 2182 and 2302 nm. A calibration equation for soybean oil was formulated with the second derivative NIR spectral data at 2178 and 2090 nm. The values of R and SEC were 0.974 and 0.77 g L⁻¹, respectively. After validation of the calibration equation, good agreement was observed between the results of the TLC/FID method and those of the NIR method for both constituents. The values of the correlation coefficient (r) for MEL and the standard error of prediction (SEP) were 0.994 and 0.45 g L⁻¹, respectively. The values of r and SEP for soybean oil were 0.979 and 0.56 g L⁻¹, respectively. The NIR method was applied to the measurement of the concentrations of MEL and soybean oil in an actual fermentation process and good results were obtained. The study indicates that NIR spectroscopy is a useful method for the measurement of the raw material and product in glycolipid fermentation.

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Measurement of the Concentrations of Mannosyl Erythritol Lipid and Soybean Oil in the Glycolipid Fermentation Process Using near Infrared Spectroscopy