Efficient production of biolipids by crude glycerol-assimilating fungi

Abstract

The aim of this study was to isolate microorganisms utilizing crude glycerol as a carbon source efficiently and to evaluate their lipid productivity. Fusarium oxysporum W1 grew well on medium containing 20% crude glycerol as well as 50% pure glycerol. The dry cell weights and total fatty acids of F. oxysporum W1 reached 24.5 g/L and 12.4 g/L. Penicillium sp. N1 and P. citrinum N3 were found to accumulate free fatty acids to as much as 56.2% and 48.5% of total fatty acids, respectively, on cultivation in the crude glycerol-containing medium. These strains grew well on medium containing crude glycerol only heat-treated at 80–105 °C without autoclave sterilization.