Automatic Fed-Batch Cultivation Enhances Microbial Lipid Production from Volatile Fatty Acids

Subin Shin, Jae Hee Go, Myounghoon Moon and Gwon Woo Park ()
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Subin Shin: Gwangju Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea
Jae Hee Go: Gwangju Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea
Myounghoon Moon: Gwangju Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea
Gwon Woo Park: Gwangju Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-10

Abstract: Organic waste is generated worldwide, and its disposal and recycling are becoming a challenge. Due to its high carbon content, however, it may be converted into valuable products. Carbon neutrality is essential, and unstable international oil prices stress the increasing importance of biofuels significantly. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) derived from organic waste can be converted to microbial lipids by oleaginous yeast using it as a carbon source. When VFA is consumed by oleaginous yeast, the pH of the medium rises; hence, acidic agents have to be added to the medium to maintain the broth’s pH. In this study, we enhanced microbial lipid productivity by automatic fed-batch cultivation using VFA as an acidic agent, and the modified cultivation showed 48.9% and 69.0% higher biomass and lipid productivity than manual multi-fed culture. At a VFA concentration of 5 g/L and pH 7.0, a lipid yield of 0.25 g/g alongside lipid productivity of 0.11 g/L/h was obtained from an automatic fed-batch system. Oleic acid accounted for the largest proportion of microbial lipids, and the fatty acid composition was suitable for biodiesel production.

Keywords: microbial lipid; organic waste; volatile fatty acids; oleaginous yeast (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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