Succinic acid production by yeasts during alcoholic fermentation of cane molasse supplemented with 25, 50 and 100 ppm of nitrogen in the form of ammonium sulfate was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Ethanol production was not effected by the different levels of nitrogen, but there was a significant reduction in the content of succinic acid which was inversely related with the ammonium sulfate concentration in the medium.
succinic acid; ammonium sulfate; alcoholic fermentation; yeasts; Saccharomyces cerevisiae