Solid State Fermentation (SSF) for the Production of Sophorolipids from Starmerella bombicola NRRL Y-17069 using glucose, wheat bran and oleic acid

The present investigation describes the exploratory work on the production of sophorolipids (SL) by solid-state fermentation (SSF) technique. The ability of Starmerella bombicola NRRL Y-17069 to produce sophorolipids by solid state fermentation was investigated. In this study, glucose was used as the hydrophilic carbon source while three different substrates were investigated as potential lipid carbon sources. 1) Blend of oleic acid with wheat bran, 2) Blend of oleic acid with isabgol husk (wheat bran and isabgol husk were used as inert support for adsorbing and distributing oleic acid) 3) Soya seed powder and 4) Peanut seed powder. Maximum yield of sophorolipids obtained was 18g per 100g of the substrate (18% conversion) using glucose and oleic acid (blended with wheat bran). The structural identity of the synthesized sophorolipids was confirmed by FTIR and super(1)H NMR spectroscopy. This work has indicated that the production of sophorolipids by solid state fermentation is also possible.