Glycerol production by repeated batch fermentation of Candida glycerinogenes was studied by using not only synthetic medium but also complex medium.The results showed that the increase rates of glycerol production,glycerol yield on initial glucose and glycerol productivity were beyond 15.0%,15.0% and 37.0% when yeast cells are recycled 13 times in low phosphate synthetic medium,9 times in low phosphate complex medium and 14 times in low phosphate complex medium with supplemented trace elements,respectively.The number of recycling in low phosphate complex medium was fewer than that in low phosphate synthetic medium.It is because low phosphate synthetic medium only limited phosphate concentration,while low phosphate complex medium limited both trace elements and phosphate.The shortage of trace elements solution influenced cell growth and glycerol synthesis,and reduced recycling number of yeast cells in low phosphate complex medium.The limitation of phosphate concentration in repeated batch fermentation medium was helpful to promoting the ability of glycerol synthesis of C.glycerinogenes.