Succinic acid production using a glycerol-based medium by an engineered strain of Yarrowia lipolytica : Statistical optimization and preliminary economic feasibility study

In this study, fermentation conditions were statistically optimized for the first time in succinic acid (SA) production with glycerol as feedstock by Yarrowia lipolytica mutant PGC01003. Firstly, the nutritional and environmental parameters were investigated by the single factor experiment in shake flasks to obtain a SA titer and yield at 11.3 g/L and 0.42 g/g, respectively. Parameters that affected the SA production were then successively optimized by Plackett-Burman design and Response Surface Methodology. Significant increase in SA yield (84%) was achieved under the optimized condition. Finally, preliminary economic feasibility study indicated that the cost of cultivation media reduced by 56% in shake flask scale after optimization. Whereas the cost of cultivation media using the optimal medium was 27.8% lower than that with YPG medium in bench-top scale fermentation. The results reported in this study show that statistical optimization could be an efficient and cost-effective approach for SA production by Y. lipolytica.