Renewable biodiesel production from oleaginous yeast biomass using industrial wastes

Oleaginous yeast with high lipid productivity for practical biodiesel production has attracted  a substantial attention over these recent years.  Eight yeast strains, Rhodosporidium toruloides TISTR 5123, 5154, 5149, Yarrowia lipolytica TISTR 5054, 5151, 5621, Rhodotorula glutinis TISTR 5159 and Rhodotorula graminis TISTR 5124 were used to investigate for triacylglycerol  production on three carbon sources: glucose, glycerol and molasses. Batch fermentations were carried out in 250 ml Erlenmeyer flasks in shaking incubator at 250 rpm, 30 ⁰C over 90 hours fermentation time. The growth profiles were then monitored by spectrophotometer and the fatty acid profiles were characterized and identified through Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Results revealed that growth profiles of these yeasts followed the logistic growth model. R.toruloides TISTR 5149 showed remarkable growth on all carbon sources with the maximum growth on crude glycerol. The fatty acid profiles showed that yeasts produced mainly C13:0, C14:0, C15:0 and C16:0. Results also revealed that the fatty acid composition and ratio varied with yeast strains and carbon sources. Overall, R.toruloides TISTR 5154 showed a high potential in palmitic acid for bio-diesel production by using molasses as the substrate.