Abstract
In this work, 12 different yeast strains were evaluated to gauge their ability to accumulate lipids using raw glycerol as the main carbon source. Lipomyces lipofer NRRL Y-1155 stood out above the other strains, achieving 9.48 g/l biomass, 57.64 % lipid content and 5.46 g/l lipid production. The fatty acid profile was similar to vegetable oils commonly used in the synthesis of biodiesel, with the predominance of polyunsaturated acids, especially linoleic acid, reaching 68.3 % for Rhodotorula glutinis NRRL YB-252. The occurrence of palmitic acid (39.3 % for Lipomyces starkeyi NRRL Y-11557) was also notable. Thus, yeast biomass with high lipid content can be a sustainable and renewable alternative as a raw material for the biodiesel industry.