Chapter 7 - Alternative lipid sources

Abstract

The recent advancement in microbial oil production has revealed a suitable alternative for the plant, animal tallow, waste cooking oil, and fish oil-based biofuel and nutritional oil production. The improvement in microbial oil (SCO) production leads to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and thereby reduces global warming. It improves food and energy security in a renewable and sustainable manner for a long term. However, to replace petrol-diesel-based fuel sources, a successful microbial oil production is required. Many lipogenic organisms with a capacity of lipid accumulation of 20%–80% (w/w) were reported in the literature. Despite the high lipid accumulation capacity, the overall lipid productivity needs significant improvement. To enhance lipid and biomass productivity, several approaches have been employed. The primary focus of the ongoing research has been concentrated to find high lipid-producing microbes and cheap carbon and nutrient sources. Second, the genetic engineering or biochemical engineering approach enhances the capacity of lipid accumulation. This chapter focuses on understanding different microbial alternatives and the importance of the biochemistry of lipid production from different sources of carbon available for microbial lipid production.