Mississippi State University has developed a novel process which utilizes the existing municipal wastewater infrastructure to cultivate a consortium of oleaginous microorganisms.   This group of microorganisms have the ability to convert pentoses and hexoses from lignocellulosic biomass to into triglycerides.  MSU's work with Rhodotorula glutinis (one of the consortium members) has shown that these sugars are consumed below detectable limits in less than 72 h when the concentration of sugars is 45 g/L with the cells accumulating as much as 35% of cell dry weight in triglyceride.  Since these organisms are aerobic, a cost effective way of cultivating them is to utilize existing municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure and the available nutrients that are sent to it daily.  Municipal wastewater contains the necessary nitrogen, phosphorus, micronutrients, and carbon to cultivate heterotrophic microorganisms such as the oleaginous microbes.  Several of the isolates in MSU's possession were isolated from municipal wastewaters. Using a synthetic wastewater described by Ghosh S and TM LaPara, 2004.  A consortium of 9 yeast and 1 actinomycete were initially placed together to develop the sewage-treating oil accumulating-consortium using the synthetic wastewater as the growth medium.  The consortium has been maintained via the addition of fresh synthetic wastewater and wasting an equivalent amount.  The triglyceride concentration of this consortium was found to be approximately 10%.