The use of this microorganism for xylitol production is novel,since most studies involve the employment of microorganisms of the genus Candida. This yeast, due to frequent isolations from dairy sources such as milk, yogurt and cheese, was regarded as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) in the United States, and QPS (Qualified Presumption of Safety) in the European Union. This is an important safety aspect, since products produced via fermentation by microorganisms are widely used in the pharmaceutical and food industries [33]. K. marxianus is widely adopted by the industry mainly for its advantageous characteristics in biotechnological processes, such as assimilation of major sugars such as sucrose or inulin, high growth rate (with typical generation time of approximately 70 min), thermotolerance, ability to grow under temperatures up to 52◦C and high excretory capacity [34].