Molasses-based growth and production of oil and astaxanthin by Chlorella zofingiensis

► Cane molasses can be transformed by Chlorella to oils and astaxanthin. ► Molasses with metal removal supported better growth than glucose. ► Crude molasses could be directly used by optimizing culture conditions. ► Molasses up-regulated key enzymes involved in oil and astaxanthin biosynthesis. ► Typing oils to astaxanthin enables profitable biodiesel from algae.