Summary: | The study aims to explore microbial lipid production using an abundant and low-cost lignocellulosic biomass derived from forestry residues. Sugar-rich undetoxified hydrolysate was prepared using hardwood and softwood sawdust and used for lipid production as a carbon source from an oleaginous yeast, <i>Rhodosporidium toruloides</i>-1588. The maximum biomass obtained was 17.09 and 19.56 g/L in hardwood and softwood hydrolysate, respectively. Sugar consumption in both hydrolysates was >95%, with a maximum lipid accumulation of 36.68% at 104 h and 35.24% at 96 h. Moreover, <i>R. toruloides</i>-1588 exhibited tolerance to several toxic compounds such as phenols, organic acids and furans present in hydrolysates. The lipid characterization showed several monosaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, making it a potential feedstock for biofuels and oleochemicals production. This study confirms the credibility of <i>R. toruloides</i>-1588 as a suitable lipid producer using hydrolysates from forestry residues as a substrate. Additionally, lipids obtained from <i>R. toruloides</i>-1588 could be a potential feedstock for advanced biofuel production as well as for food and pharmaceutical applications.
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