Application of microorganisms with ability of
using environmental wastes such as lignocellulosic materials
for converting them to high-value products is important from
economical point of view. Valuable products such as single
cell oil (SCO) have a high potential to be used in various
industrial fields including biodiesel production. Other
important products are polyalcohols like xylitol, which are
applicable in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this
study,
Rhodotorula
yeast was isolated from the leaves of
Benjamin. Afterward, SCO production was evaluated in a
nitrogen-limited medium, and the obtained oil was analyzed
by gas chromatography–mass spectrometery. Moreover,
xylitol was produced in a media containing xylose and
analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography
technique. The yeast strain was identified using polymerase
chain reaction method. SCO and xylitol production was also
evaluated in a medium containing lignocellulosic materials
and other forestry residues. This strain produced SCO and
dry biomass of 9.7 and 16.14 g/L, respectively. In addition,
in a medium with 140 g/L of xylose, xylitol production was
found to be 49.28 g/L. Among waste materials, lipid content
of 49 % on grass hydrolysate was found to be incredible. The
obtained strain was identified as
Rhodotorula mucilaginosa
.
The results of this study show that by the isolation of yeast
with the potential of making use of waste materials, highvalue
products can be obtained. Therefore, it can be concluded
that the mentioned bioprocess has not only environmental
benefits but also is very important from economical
view.
