Production of single cell oil by Lipomyces starkeyi from waste plant oil generated by the palm oil mill industry.

Only a few reports available about the assimilation of hydrophobic or oil-based feedstock as carbon sources by Lipomyces starkeyi. In this study, the ability of L. starkeyi to efficiently utilize free fatty acids (FFAs) and real biomass like palm acid oil (PAO) as well as crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) for growth and lipid production was investigated. PAO, CPKO, and FFAs were evaluated as sole carbon sources or in the mixed medium containing glucose. L. starkeyi was able to grow on the medium supplemented with PAO and FFAs, which contained long-chain length FAs and accumulated lipids up to 35% (w/w) of its dry cell weight. The highest lipid content and lipid concentration were achieved at 50% (w/w) and 10.1 g/L, respectively, when L. starkeyi was cultured in nitrogen-limited mineral medium (-NMM) supplemented with PAO emulsion. Hydrophobic substrate like PAO could be served as promising carbon source for L. starkeyi. • Lipomyces starkeyi could grow on specific types of hydrocarbon or plant-oil-based feedstocks and accumulate lipid. • Palm acid oil (PAO) and long-chain length fatty acids such as C16:0 and C18:1 could be efficiently utilized by L. starkeyi. • L. starkeyi was not able to use carbon sources consisting of C12:0 such as CPKO and sodium laurate. • Addition of Tween 20 as a surfactant to emulsify PAO increases the availability of PAO in the culture medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]