Binary solvent extraction of intracellular lipids from Rhodotorula toruloides for cell recycling
Abstract Background Microbial lipid extraction is a critical process in the production of biofuels and other valuable chemicals from oleaginous microorganisms. The process involves the separation of lipids from microbial cells. Given the complexity of microbial cell walls and the demand for efficien...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-025-02655-0 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850133357734658048 |
|---|---|
| author | Jingyi Song Rasool Kamal Yadong Chu Shiyu Liang Zongbao K. Zhao Qitian Huang |
| author_facet | Jingyi Song Rasool Kamal Yadong Chu Shiyu Liang Zongbao K. Zhao Qitian Huang |
| author_sort | Jingyi Song |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Microbial lipid extraction is a critical process in the production of biofuels and other valuable chemicals from oleaginous microorganisms. The process involves the separation of lipids from microbial cells. Given the complexity of microbial cell walls and the demand for efficient and environmentally friendly extraction methods, further research is still needed in this area. This study aims to pursue the extraction of intracellular lipids from oleaginous yeasts using inexpensive solvents, without disrupting the cells and even maintaining a certain level of cell viability. Results The study used fresh fermentation broth of Rhodotorula toruloides as the lipid extraction target and employed a binary solvent of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and n-hexane for lipid extraction. The effects of extraction time and solvent ratio on cell viability, lipid extraction efficiency, and fatty acid composition were analyzed. Conditions that balanced lipid yield and cell survival were selected for lipid extraction. Specifically, using a binary solvent (with 40% MTBE) to extract an equal volume of R. toruloides fermentation broth achieved a total lipid extraction rate of 60%, while maintaining a 5% cell survival rate (the surviving cells served as the seed for the second round of lipid production). After separating the solvent phase and supplementing the lipid-extracted cells with carbon sources and a small amount of nitrogen sources, the cells gradually regained biomass and produced lipids. Repeating this "gentle" extraction on surviving and regrown cells and adding carbon and nitrogen sources can enable a second round of growth and lipid production in these cells. Conclusions This is an interesting finding that may potentially encompass the extraction mechanisms of polar/nonpolar solvents and the phenomenon of yeast autophagy. This method does not require the destruction of the cell wall of oleaginous yeast. The separation after extraction is simple, and both the cells and solvents can be recycled. It provides a possible approach for simultaneous fermentation and lipid extraction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8cb0b27fc5bb439484f0c3d2365d5e64 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-3654 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts |
| spelling | doaj-art-8cb0b27fc5bb439484f0c3d2365d5e642025-08-20T02:31:59ZengBMCBiotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts2731-36542025-05-011811910.1186/s13068-025-02655-0Binary solvent extraction of intracellular lipids from Rhodotorula toruloides for cell recyclingJingyi Song0Rasool Kamal1Yadong Chu2Shiyu Liang3Zongbao K. Zhao4Qitian Huang5Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CASDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CASDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CASDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CASDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CASDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CASAbstract Background Microbial lipid extraction is a critical process in the production of biofuels and other valuable chemicals from oleaginous microorganisms. The process involves the separation of lipids from microbial cells. Given the complexity of microbial cell walls and the demand for efficient and environmentally friendly extraction methods, further research is still needed in this area. This study aims to pursue the extraction of intracellular lipids from oleaginous yeasts using inexpensive solvents, without disrupting the cells and even maintaining a certain level of cell viability. Results The study used fresh fermentation broth of Rhodotorula toruloides as the lipid extraction target and employed a binary solvent of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and n-hexane for lipid extraction. The effects of extraction time and solvent ratio on cell viability, lipid extraction efficiency, and fatty acid composition were analyzed. Conditions that balanced lipid yield and cell survival were selected for lipid extraction. Specifically, using a binary solvent (with 40% MTBE) to extract an equal volume of R. toruloides fermentation broth achieved a total lipid extraction rate of 60%, while maintaining a 5% cell survival rate (the surviving cells served as the seed for the second round of lipid production). After separating the solvent phase and supplementing the lipid-extracted cells with carbon sources and a small amount of nitrogen sources, the cells gradually regained biomass and produced lipids. Repeating this "gentle" extraction on surviving and regrown cells and adding carbon and nitrogen sources can enable a second round of growth and lipid production in these cells. Conclusions This is an interesting finding that may potentially encompass the extraction mechanisms of polar/nonpolar solvents and the phenomenon of yeast autophagy. This method does not require the destruction of the cell wall of oleaginous yeast. The separation after extraction is simple, and both the cells and solvents can be recycled. It provides a possible approach for simultaneous fermentation and lipid extraction.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-025-02655-0Oleaginous microorganismsLipid extractionMBTECell recycling |
| spellingShingle | Jingyi Song Rasool Kamal Yadong Chu Shiyu Liang Zongbao K. Zhao Qitian Huang Binary solvent extraction of intracellular lipids from Rhodotorula toruloides for cell recycling Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts Oleaginous microorganisms Lipid extraction MBTE Cell recycling |
| title | Binary solvent extraction of intracellular lipids from Rhodotorula toruloides for cell recycling |
| title_full | Binary solvent extraction of intracellular lipids from Rhodotorula toruloides for cell recycling |
| title_fullStr | Binary solvent extraction of intracellular lipids from Rhodotorula toruloides for cell recycling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Binary solvent extraction of intracellular lipids from Rhodotorula toruloides for cell recycling |
| title_short | Binary solvent extraction of intracellular lipids from Rhodotorula toruloides for cell recycling |
| title_sort | binary solvent extraction of intracellular lipids from rhodotorula toruloides for cell recycling |
| topic | Oleaginous microorganisms Lipid extraction MBTE Cell recycling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-025-02655-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jingyisong binarysolventextractionofintracellularlipidsfromrhodotorulatoruloidesforcellrecycling AT rasoolkamal binarysolventextractionofintracellularlipidsfromrhodotorulatoruloidesforcellrecycling AT yadongchu binarysolventextractionofintracellularlipidsfromrhodotorulatoruloidesforcellrecycling AT shiyuliang binarysolventextractionofintracellularlipidsfromrhodotorulatoruloidesforcellrecycling AT zongbaokzhao binarysolventextractionofintracellularlipidsfromrhodotorulatoruloidesforcellrecycling AT qitianhuang binarysolventextractionofintracellularlipidsfromrhodotorulatoruloidesforcellrecycling |