Rhizopus stolonifer biomass catalytic transesterification capability: optimization of cultivation conditions

• Published in: Microbial cell factories 2023-08, Vol.22 (1), p.154-154, Article 154
• Main Authors: Elhussieny, Nadeem I, El-Refai, Heba A, Mohamed, Sayeda S, Shetaia, Yousseria M, Amin, Hala A, Klöck, Gerd
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Biocatalysis; Biodiesel; Biodiesel fuels; Biomass; Catalysis; Cell culture; Chromatography; Cultivation; Culture media; Design; Design optimization; Enzymes; Fatty acids; Fermentation; Fish meal; Frying; Fungal biomass; Fungi; Glucose; Growth conditions; Hydrolysis; Investigations; Lipase; Lipids; Olive oil; Optimization; Phenolphthalein; Potassium phosphate; Potassium phosphates; Properties; Rapeseed; Raw materials; Response surface methodology; Rhizopus; Rhizopus stolonifer; Shaking; Soybean; Soybeans; Statistical analysis; Surfactants; Transesterification; Triglycerides; Urea; Vegetable oils
• ISSN: 1475-2859; 1475-2859
• DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02141-y

Using fungal biomass for biocatalysis is a potential solution for the expensive cost of the use o enzymes. Production of fungal biomass with effective activity requires optimizing the cultivation conditions. Rhizopus stolonifer biomass was optimized for transesterification and hydrolysis of waste frying oil (WFO). Growth and biomass lipolytic activities of R. stolonifer improved under shaking conditions compared to static conditions, and 200 rpm was optimum. As biomass lipase and transesterification activities inducer, olive oil was superior to soybean, rapeseed, and waste frying oils. Biomass produced in culture media containing fishmeal as an N-source feedstock had higher lipolytic capabilities than corn-steep liquor and urea. Plackett Burman screening of 9 factors showed that pH (5-9), fishmeal (0.25-1.7%, w/v), and KH PO (0.1-0.9%, w/v) were significant factors with the highest main effect estimates 11.46, 10.42, 14.90, respectively. These factors were selected for response surface methodology (RSM) optimization using central composite design (CCD). CCD models for growth, biomass lipase activity, and transesterification capability were significant. The optimum conditions for growth and lipid modification catalytic activities were pH 7.4, fishmeal (2.62%, w/v), and KH2PO4 (2.99%, w/v). Optimized culture conditions improved the whole cell transesterification capability of Rhizopus stolonifer biomass in terms of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) concentration by 67.65% to a final FAME concentration of 85.5%, w/w.