UTILIZATION OF MOLASSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FAT BY AN OLEAGINOUS YEAST, RHODOTORULA-GLUTINIS IIP-30

Rhodotorula glutinis is known to produce fat when cultivated under nit rogen-limiting conditions. Economically, molasses is an ideal substrat e, however, due to the presence of nitrogen in molasses, the lipid yie ld obtained ii much lower than that obtained from glucose or sucrose. Higher yields were obtained using molasses in a fed batch fermentation supplemented with glucose or sucrose during the lipid accumulation ph ase. The fatty acids profile of the lipids thus produced, using a very simple and economical medium, was similar to that obtained from gluco se and sucrose.