BIOPROCESS OPTIMIZATION OF MICROBIAL OIL YIELD USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

Abstract

Microbial oil, which has found applications in the food and cosmetics industries, is considered a valuable substitute for traditional oil sources. The production of microbial oil by oleaginous microorganisms offers a potential solution for sustainable oil production. The biodiesel industry faces challenges related to the availability of low-cost feedstocks, which could be addressed by exploring microbial oils from filamentous fungi. The purpose of the study is to optimize filamentous fungi to produce microbial oil yield using response surface methodology (RSM). In this study the isolation of isolates was carried out using serial dilution techniques, screening for lipolytic activity using Congo red plate, and Sudan black B staining, identification was carried out using microscopic, and colonial morphology characteristics, fermentation was carried out using solid-state and extraction of lipid fungi in compliance with the Bligh and Dyer method. A total of 16 fungal isolates were obtained out of which 8 isolates were filamentous fungi. Three (3) out of the Eight (8) isolates show precipitation zones on the plates, the selected fungus indicates the presence of black colored globules within the cell for Sudan black staining. The 8 positive isolates belong to the following genera: Trichoderma sp, Aspergillus sp, Rhizopus sp, and Candida sp,. The amount of lipid yield against incubation days were: 1ml at day3, 2ml at day 5, 2.2ml at day 7 and 3ml at day9. The study revealed that oil-enriched soil harbors a significant abundance of oleaginous micro organisms, which can serve as a viable substitute for biodiesel production.