Simultaneous production of fatty acids and amino polysaccharides from Norway spruce hydrolysates using oleaginous Mucor circinelloides

Lignocellulose is an abundant raw material and renewable carbon source for the production of single cell oils which can replace plant-derived oils in food, feed, fuels, and oleochemicals. Mucor circinelloides produces both fatty acids and amino polysaccharides, such as chitin and chitosan. This study evaluates hydrolysates of Norway spruce (Picea abies) as a carbon source for their simultaneous production. Cultivation in spruce hydrolysate media yielded 15.8 g/L of biomass, with fatty acids comprising ~ 50% of the cell dry weight and amino polysaccharides up to 8.5%. The fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) content and fatty acid profile were comparable to glucose fermentation. Optimal harvesting times ranged from 72 to 120 h, depending on desired yields. These findings demonstrate that Norway spruce hydrolysates are a viable and sustainable substrate for microbial lipid and polysaccharide production, supporting their potential use in biotechnology and industrial applications.