The neutraceutical and pharmaceutical application
of essential fatty acids is much cleared. Alpha-linolenic
acid (ALA) is omega-3 fatty acid and generally
known to have beneficial effects in CVS, CNS and other
diseases. The purpose of the present investigation is to
produce essential fatty acid, especially ALA by
Mucor circinelloides
from oil wastes. Five oil wastes collected
from food industries were used as carbon sources, and the
contents of total lipids, biomass and fatty acids were
examined during 168 h. The ability of oil waste degradation
was determined by measuring of biochemical oxygen
demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD).
Interestingly, 76 % reduction in BOD and 68 % reduction
in COD by this strain were achieved, and
M. circinelloides
could be a good candidate for oil waste treatment. In order
to enhance ALA production, fermentation variables were
chosen in accordance with the fractional design and further
optimized by the response surface method. The statistical
model was constructed via central composite design. Following
the optimization step, ALA production increased by
approximately 44.3 %, when compared to the screening
step. The results indicate that carrying out the fermentation
under the conditions of oil waste 4.37 %, yeast extract at
0.65 g/l, (NH
4)
2SO
4 at 0.38 g/l, an agitation rate of
180 rpm and fermentation time of 3 days will increase the
ALA production up to 108.57 mg/l. In this study, a new
renewable source of ALA was employed and optimized
successfully for the production of valuable fatty acids.