EUBCE 2026 - Christos CHATZIDOUKAS - Mechanistic Simulation of Oleaginous Yeast Systems for Optimized Lipid Production and Process Scale-Up Studies

Mechanistic Simulation of Oleaginous Yeast Systems for Optimized Lipid Production and Process Scale-Up Studies

Short Introductive summary

Oleaginous yeasts are highly valued for their ability to accumulate lipids up to 70% of their dry mass, making them promising renewable feedstocks for biofuel production. However, large-scale application faces challenges including high carbon demands, O2 transfer limitations, and complex metabolic regulation. To address this, a multi-scale mechanistic model was developed for T. oleaginosus, integrating intracellular metabolism with extracellular nutrient dynamics. The model considers glucose as the main carbon source, (NH4)2SO4 and yeast extract as nitrogen sources, and incorporates O2 and CO2 mass-transfer effects. It combines macroscopic mass balances for substrates, biomass, and lipids with intracellular balances of key metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and fatty acid biosynthesis. Model parameters were estimated and validated using nine fed-batch experiments with different DO setpoints. The model accurately predicted biomass, substrate, and lipid dynamics (R² 0.9), capturing the shift from nitrogen-sufficient growth to carbon-excess lipid accumulation. This framework provides a robust tool for optimizing and scaling sustainable oleaginous yeast cultures

A. Biziouras, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE
A. Karoousis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE
C. Samara, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE
G. Papapanagiotou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE
A. Diakidou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE
C. Chatzidoukas, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE