Technical and economical evaluation of lipid production using yeast Schwanniomyces occidentalis

The sustainable production of microbial lipids, which can serve as raw materials for various processes including biodiesel production, is crucial to meet the growing demand for renewable energy sources. This study systematically evaluates the physiology of Schwanniomyces occidentalis under a carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio of 120, achieving balanced growth and a lipid content of 31 ± 2.59%, with a lipid productivity of 0.632 ± 0.03 g/(L*h). A detailed techno-economic analysis determined that Schwanniomyces occidentalis is a viable candidate for microbial oil production under fed-batch conditions. The economic analysis highlights the importance of scaling and optimizing operational costs. Utilizing multiple bioreactors in parallel reduced the payback period and effectively distributed fixed costs, demonstrating economies of scale. The payback period analysis indicated that maintaining a lipid price of at least 1.00 USD/g ensures financial viability even with the smallest reactor configuration. However, current bulk market prices for lipids are significantly lower, necessitating process intensification and cost reduction strategies to enhance competitiveness. Gantt charts revealed the importance of process synchronization for efficiency, with parallel bioreactor setups minimizing idle times and reducing production cycle times. Despite demonstrating technical feasibility and economic viability, challenges such as maintaining consistent yields, managing raw material cost fluctuations, and addressing environmental concerns associated with organic solvents remain. Advances in process control and real-time data management are essential to realizing the potential of large-scale lipid production from Schwanniomyces occidentalis as a sustainable resource for various industrial applications.