Experimental Design as a Tool for the Optimization of Lipid Production by Meyerozyma guilliermondii in a Crude Glycerol-based Medium

Abstract

Biodiesel production, which has been increasing worldwide, transformed crude glycerol, the main byproduct of the reaction, into a commodity of low commercial value, especially due to the high costs involved in its purification process and to the fact that the market cannot account for its generation. Therefore, this study aims at contributing to the search for technological alternatives to the use of surplus crude glycerol so as to add value to this byproduct by using it as the carbon source for the yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii, in order to yield lipids. The Central Composite Rotational Design was proposed to establish empirical models, codified for lipid content, production and productivity as the result of concentrations of Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate (MgSO₄.7H₂O) and yeast extract. In the optimized conditions, the lipid content in dry basis, lipid production and lipid productivity were 8.25%, 1.10 g.L^-1 and 0.0092 g.L^-1.h^-1, respectively obtained.