The effect of amino acids on lipid production and nutrient removal by Rhodotorula glutinis cultivation in starch wastewater

In this paper, the components of amino acids in mixed starch wastewater (corn steep water/corn gluten water = 1/3, v/v) were analyzed by GC-MS. Effects of amino acids on lipid production by Rhodotorula glutinis and COD removal were studied. The results showed that mixed starch wastewater contained 9 kinds of amino acids and these amino acids significantly improved the biomass (13.63 g/L), lipid yield (2.48 g/L) and COD removal compared to the basic medium (6.23 g/L and 1.56 g/L). In a 5 L fermentor containing mixed starch wastewater as substrate to culture R. glutinis, the maximum biomass, lipid content and lipid yield reached 26.38 g/L, 28.90% and 7.62 g/L, with the associated removal rates of COD, TN and TP reaching 77.41%, 69.12% and 73.85%, respectively. The results revealed a promising approach for lipid production with using amino acids present in starch wastewater as an alternative nitrogen source.