Effects of different oil sources and residues on biomass and metabolite production by Yarrowia lipolytica YB 423-12

Yarrowia lipolytica is known to have the ability to assimilate hydrophobic substrates like triglycerides, fats, and oils, and to produce single-cell oils, lipases, and organic acids. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of different oil sources (borage, canola, sesame, Echium, and trout oils) and oil industry residues (olive pomace oil, hazelnut oil press cake, and sunflower seed oil cake) on the growth, lipid accumulation, and lipase and citric acid production by Y. lipolytica YB 423-12. The maximum biomass and lipid accumulation were observed with linseed oil. Among the tested oil sources and oil industry residues, hazelnut oil press cake was the best medium for lipase production. The Y. lipolytica YB 423-12 strain produced 12.32 ± 1.54 U/mL (lipase activity) of lipase on hazelnut oil press cake medium supplemented with glucose. The best substrate for citric acid production was found to be borage oil, with an output of 5.34 ± 0.94 g/L. The biotechnological production of valuable metabolites such as single-cell oil, lipase, and citric acid could be achieved by using these wastes and low-cost substrates with this strain. Furthermore, the cost of the bio-process could also be significantly reduced by the utilization of various low-cost raw materials, residues, wastes, and renewable resources as substrates for this yeast.