Kluyveromyces marxianus exoinulinase production in shaker and bio reaction calorimeter has been studied. Biocalorimetric studies revealed enhanced inulinase production due to the linear and exponential feeding of sucrose. Linear fed-batch inulinase production (355 IU/mL) was seventeen-fold greater than batch mode (20.98 IU/mL). Further controlling the specific growth rate by exponential feeding of sucrose gave highest inulinase activity of 728 IU/mL.. Exponential feeding strategy yielded highest inulinase activity in the synthetic medium with a reduction in batch time to half that of the linear feeding. This has been substantiated by metabolic and physiological aspects of inulinase production. A Michaelis-Menten type empirical model was developed for fed-batch that can be adopted for controlling specific growth rate based on metabolic heat responses, towards achieving maximum enzyme production and release. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights, reserved.