Characterization and comparison of different oleaginous yeasts and scale-up of single-cell oil production using rhodosporidium diobovatum

Abstract

Oleaginous yeasts are able to produce a high percentage of their weight as lipids, which can be used as the starting material for biodiesel production, producing a fuel with many of the same properties as petroleum-based diesel. The objective of this research was to compare three oleaginous yeast species, Rhodosporidium babjevae, Rhodosporidium diobovatum, and Yarrowia lipolytica to determine which species would be the best candidate for larger-scale production. Following the comparison work, it was determined that R. diobovatum was the best candidate for scale-up. Subsequent experiments used batch cultures in bioreactors at a volume of 3.5 L, followed by a 25x fold increase to 90 L production. The results of this scale-up showed that the high levels of production and growth continued in a reactor system. As such, R. diobovatum could be a possible organism to use in the production of lipids from waste glycerol for biodiesel production.