View article

To screen yeasts in relation to the potential to produce single cell oil (SCO) from biodiesel‐derived glycerol and to enhance SCO production in Lipomyces starkeyi and Rhodosporidium toruloides yeasts.

Yarrowia lipolytica, Cryptococcus curvatus, R. toruloides and L. starkeyi were grown in nitrogen‐limited flask cultures. Yarrowia lipolytica strains produced citric acid and mannitol. Lipomyces starkeyi DSM 70296 and R. toruloides NRRL Y‐27012 showed potential for SCO production, and were cultivated at increasing the initial glycerol concentrations with the initial nitrogen concentration remaining constant. Significant biomass and SCO production were reported even in cultures with high initial glycerol concentrations (i.e. 180 g l⁻¹). Lipid quantities of c. 12 g l⁻¹ (lipid in dry cell weight 35–40%) were obtained for both L. starkeyi and R …