Kinetics of lipid production at lab scale fermenters by a new isolate of Yarrowia lipolytica SKY7

•A glycerol concentration of 85.5 g/L and C/N ratio of 75 with inoculum volume of 6.25% v/v found optimal.•Biomass concentration of 29.5 g/L with 50% w/w lipid accumulation was obtained in 15 L scale.•The biomass and lipid yield was reached to 0.332 g/g and 0.179 g/g respectively.

The objective of this work was to study the kinetics of lipid production at lab scale fermenters by a new isolate of Yarrowia lipolytica SKY7. The model terms glycerol concentration inoculum and C/N ratio with inoculum were found to be significant for lipid production. Lipid production was found to be higher in glycerol 82.5 g/L, C/N ratio 75 and inoculum volume 6.25%. Optimized culture conditions were tested at 15 L bench scale reactor. The biomass concentration and lipid content obtained was 29.5 g/L and 50% (w/w), respectively. The yield coefficients were calculated and found to be 0.332 g/g (g biomass/g of glycerol) of biomass and 0.179 g/g (g lipid/g glycerol consumed) for lipid. Observed rates of lipid production show lipid production from 30 h of fermentation. Out of the total glycerol consumed, 41.1% glycerol was converted into biomass, lipid, and citric acid.