Fermentation of levoglucosan with oleaginous yeasts for lipid production

► A new process of directly conversion of levoglucosan to lipid was proposed. ► Oleaginous yeasts Rhodotorula glutinis and Rhodosporidium toruloides showed best growth in LG. ► Enzyme activities of LG kinase from R. glutinis and R. toruloides were determined. ► LG aqueous phase by three detoxification methods was fermented by R. glutinis.