Bioconversion of Agro-Residues into Microbial Oil-Based Oleochemicals Employing Packed Bed Bioreactor

Lignocellulosic waste-streams are resources worth investigating to produce value-added bioproducts due their low-cost, renewability, versatility, and abundance. This study evaluated five Zygomycota strains as potential oleaginous microorganisms for direct bioconversion of cakes derived from the vegetable-oil-milling industry into microbial oil. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) conditions in tray bioreactors revealed that temperature, moisture content, substrate affected lipid production fatty acids composition. Employing SSF, under optimal (30 °C, 65% initial content), supplementation with nitrogen sources increased productivity 1.1-fold on palm kernel cake (PKC) substrate. Supplementation strategies using glycerol, molasses, or mineral solution did n?t favor production. When cotton seed (CoSC) was applied, C. echinulata able 304.1 mg/gfs biomass a content 40.2% (w/w) bioreactors. Scaling-up SSF CoSC packed bed reactors led highest (320.5 mg/gfs), while lipids unaffected. Then, oil enzymatically converted polyol esters achieving conversion yield 80% after 2 h. Physicochemical properties demonstrated utilization biolubricants. The present showed perspective bioconverting industrial side streams route sustainable synthesis oleochemicals.