Strategy Development for Cost Effective Lipid Production From Starchy Waste

Strategy development for cost effective lipid production from starchy waste

Ramalingam Subramaniam, Stephen Dufreche, RakeshBajpai, and Mark E. Zappi

Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA

In this work, the different strategies like batch, discrete feed, fed batch and continuous mode of operation for the production of microbial lipids from sweet potato starch were analyzed. The fermentation medium utilized in this work has optimized concentrations of vitamins (Biotin, Calcium-Pantothenate and Inositol) in place of yeast extract.  High lipid yields were attained by providing an excess amount of carbon feedstock. Experiments were conducted in a 5-L aerated, temperature, pH, and agitation controlled fermentor. Batch and discrete batch experiments were conducted in order to obtain the kinetic model. Fed batch and continuous processes were explored for lipid production using the kinetic model. The results will be presented at the meeting. In the production process, the oleaginous yeast Lipomyces starkeyi was utilized.