Abstract
Yarrowia lipolytica was cultivated on mixtures of saturated free fatty acids (an industrial derivative of animal fat called stearin), technical glycerol (the main by-product of bio-diesel production facilities), and glucose. The utilization of technical glycerol and stearin as co-substrates resulted in higher lipid synthesis and increased citric acid production than the combination of glucose and stearin. The lipids produced contained significant amounts of stearic acid (50–70%, wt/wt) and lower ones of palmitic (15–20%, wt/wt), oleic (7–20%, wt/wt), and linoleic (2–7%, wt/wt) acid. Single-cell oil having a composition similar to cocoa-butter up to 3.4 g/L was produced, whereas in some cases relatively increased citric acid quantities (up to 14 g/L) were excreted into the growth medium. The microorganism presented a high specificity for lauric, myristic, and palmitic acid, while a discrimination for the stearic acid was observed. As a conclusion, microbial metabolism could be directed by using mixtures of inexpensive saturated fats, glycerol, and glucose as co-substrates, in order to accumulate lipids with predetermined composition, e.g., cocoa-butter equivalents.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 1 April 2002 / Accepted: 4 May 2002
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Papanikolaou, S., Muniglia, L., Chevalot, I. et al. Accumulation of a Cocoa-Butter-Like Lipid by Yarrowia lipolytica Cultivated on Agro-Industrial Residues. Curr Microbiol 46, 0124–0130 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-002-3833-3
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-002-3833-3