Author(s)

Tatiane F. S. R. Bento, Vitor F. M. Viana, Livia M. Carneiro, João Paulo A. Silva^*

Department of Chemical Engineering, Engineering College of Lorena, University of São Paulo, Lorena/SP, Brazil.

In the present study, the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis has been assessed with the aim of producing microbial lipids from glycerol under different aeration conditions. For such a purpose, experiments were carried out in shake flasks, under different conditions of agitation (150 to 250 rpm) and aeration (2.5 to 5.0 of flask volume-to-medium volume ratio). Furthermore, their influence on fermentative parameters (lipid and cell concentration, biomass yield; lipid yield; and lipid volumetric productivity) has been investigated using a 2² full factorial design. The statistical analysis has revealed a strong influence of both variables on substrate consumption, lipid accumulation, cell growth and lipid productivity. As a whole, results suggest that higher aeration levels provide greater cell and lipid concentrations, and lipid volumetric productivity. The best results (4.5 g/L of lipids and Q_P = 0.95 g/L⋅day) were achieved at the highest aeration (5.0 flask volume-to-medium volume ratio) and agitation (250 rpm) levels. Their fatty acid profile showed that oleic acid was produced in greater quantity (53.5%), followed by linoleic acid (18.7%), palmitic acid (6.8%) and stearic acid (9.9%). The microbial oil presented viscosity of 39.3 cP at 50°C and free fatty acid content of 1.93% ± 0.08%. These are significant results and contribute to establishing operational conditions that maximize single-cell oil production from glycerol by Rhodotorula glutinis, i.e. an alternative source as renewable raw material for lipid-based biorefineries.

Single-Cell Oil, Rhodotorula glutinis, Aeration, Glycerol, Oleaginous Yeast

Bento, T. , Viana, V. , Carneiro, L. and Silva, J. (2019) Influence of Agitation and Aeration on Single Cell Oil Production by Rhodotorula glutinis from Glycerol. Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems, 9, 29-43. doi: 10.4236/jsbs.2019.92003.