Investigating the Bioconversion Potential of Volatile Fatty Acids: Use of Oleaginous Yeasts Rhodosporidium toruloides and Cryptococcus curvatus towards the Sustainable Production of Biodiesel and Odd-Chain Fatty Acids

Oleaginous yeasts have attracted increasing scientific interest as single cell oil (SCO) producers. SCO can be used a fossil-free fuel substitute, but also source of rarely found odd-chain fatty acids (OCFAs), such C15, C17, and C25 which wide range nutritional biological applications. Volatile (VFAs) gained sustainable carbon for yeasts. This study aims to improve current knowledge on yeast species that yield high amounts using VFAs source. Specifically, the growth promising Cryptococcus curvatus Rhodotorula toruloides was evaluated individual VFAs, acetic, propionic, butyric acid. C. proved more tolerant in higher concentrations (up 60 g/L), while acid favored biomass lipid conversion (0.65 0.23 g/gsubstrate, respectively). For R. toruloides, (0.48 g/gsubstrate), acetic acid, instead (0.14 g/gsubstrate). Propionic induced formation OCFAs, yielded 2.17 g/L). derived from anaerobic digestion brewer’s spent grain were tested cost-competitive illustrated significance combination different quality produced SCO, by improving biodiesel properties OCFAs production.