Rhodotorula glutinis cultivation on cassava wastewater for carotenoids and fatty acids generation

Yeasts from the Rhodotorula genus can accumulate large amounts of carotenoids and fatty acids in their cells. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of using cassava wastewater as a low-cost alternative substrate for the growth of Rhodotorula glutinis intended for the production of carotenoids and fatty acids. High growth of the yeast (10.28 g·L-1), as well as high productions of carotenoids (0.98 mg·L-1) and lipids (1.34 g·L-1), were obtained when Rhodotorula glutinis was cultivated in cassava wastewater as the sole source of nutrients. Moreover, the fatty acids accumulated in the yeast cells were mostly (over 50%) unsaturated, where high percentages (%) of oleic acid (59.76 ± 0.58) and linoleic acid (7.59 ± 1.18) were found when the alternative substrate was used. Results suggest that cassava wastewater presents the potential to be applied as a sole source of nutrients to support Rhodotorula glutinis growth and metabolites accumulation in its cells. [Display omitted] •Cassava wastewater supports R. glutinis growth and metabolites accumulation.•0.98 mg·L-1 carotenoids was produced from non-supplemented cassava wastewater.•Minerals and nitrogen supplementation can improve growth performance.•Unsaturated fatty acids stand out as major contributors to the overall FAME content.