Deproteinated potato wastewater as a low-cost nitrogen substrate for very high yeast biomass quantities: starting point for scaled-up applications

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of deproteinated potato wastewater (DPW) supplemented by different initial concentrations of glucose on biomass yield, especially lipids biosynthesis and fatty acids composition. DPW is a low-cost source of nitrogen and other biogenic elements. It allowed for an efficient yeast cells growth and a very high biomass yield of Rhodotorula glutinis var. rubescens LOCKR13. A short time of incubation leads to a biomass rich in protein, which can be a source of single-cell protein. The strain was able to accumulate 46% cell dry weight (CDW) of lipids in control medium and only 18% when DPW medium were used. The maximum volumetric lipids efficiency in the DPW medium was 6.14 g L −1 . Oleic (41.0–51.5%), palmitic (15.3–17.8%), and stearic acids (5.8–7.5%) dominated the entire pool of fatty acids. Theoretical calculations indicated a possibility to use the methylated esters of lipids from R. glutinis var. rubescens yeast as a biodiesel.