Biotechnological Production and Significance of Triacylglycerols and Wax Esters
Global fats, oils and wax esters demand is forecast to increase in the next years. Steadily growing biodiesel requirements will lead to increased demand for vegetable oils, in combination with a constant rise in the consumption of vegetable oil as food an
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K. N. Timmis (ed.), Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology, DOI 10.1007/978-3-540-77587-4_222, # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2010
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Biotechnological Production and Significance of Triacylglycerols and Wax Esters
Abstract: Global fats, oils and wax esters demand is forecast to increase in the next years. Steadily growing biodiesel requirements will lead to increased demand for vegetable oils, in combination with a constant rise in the consumption of vegetable oil as food and feed. This situation will drive the use of alternative sources for the production of oils and wax esters during the next years. In this context, microorganisms (yeasts, fungi, microalgae and bacteria) are receiving increasing attention as alternative oils and wax esters sources. The knowledge acquired during the last decade about the production of bacterial triacylglycerols (TAG) and wax esters (WE) and their fundamental aspects could provide a new production platform for oils. The applied potential of bacterial TAG and WE may be similar to that of vegetable sources, such as additives for feed, cosmetics, oleochemicals, lubricants and other manufactured products. In addition, bacterial oils could be used for biofuel production. The development of an industrial and commercially significant process may depend on the optimization of engineered cells and the technological procedures. This chapter will focus on the potential biotechnological application of TAG and WE produced by bacteria.
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Introduction
Fats, oils and WE are nowadays used for multiple commercial purposes. Global demand for fats and oils during the next years is forecast to rise and probably to exceed world production. World consumption of oils and fats has grown progressively during the last 25 years. Since 1995, the global per capita consumption of oils and fats has risen from 15.6 to 23.4 kg per year. In 2003–2004 the world production of fats and oils were approximately of 128.5 million tons with 82% of vegetal origin. A large proportion of the vegetable oils comprise coconut, palm and palm kernel oil from countries with tropical climates, and soybean, rape seed and sunflower oils from moderate climates. Animal fat is obtained from the meat industry and fish oil comes from the fishing industry. Vegetable oils and WE are used as an ingredient or component in many manufactured products (> Table 1). Over 80% of oils are used for edible purposes, including the production of cooking oils, margarines and processed food. Half the remaining part is used in the animal feed industry and approximately 14% goes to the chemical industry. In recent years biodiesel has also been gaining worldwide interest as an alternative energy source. This biofuel is basically a mixture of methyl esters produced by transesterification of vegetable oil. Increasing global appetite for biodiesel and other biofuels is driving the demand . Table 1 Applications of vegetable oils and wax esters Fats and oils
Wax esters
Culinary uses Components in manufactured products: Soaps, candles, p
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