Response surface methodology for optimization of biodiesel production by the Penicillium commune NRC 2016 and its mutants

Background: With increasing energy requirements and limited fuel resources, finding cheap renewable sources is essential. The objective of our current economy was to enhance biodiesel production from the Penicillium commune NRC 2016. Methods: : Four mutagenic agents were used to improve the lipid production from P. commune NRC 2016; a physical agent was gamma radiation and the chemical mutagenic agents including ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), ethidium bromide (EB), and sodium azide (NaN 3 ). Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats molecular (ISSR) marker was used to compare the wild type of P. commune NRC 2016 and the resulting mutants and the result showed a major difference between the wild type and its mutants. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the culture conditions for lipid production by P. commune NRC 2016 and the induced mutants using hydrolysate that was produced from bagasse using B. cereus 3SME. Results: : The maximum lipid content (g/l) for P. commune NRC 2016 wild type, gamma mutant, EB mutant, and EMS mutant were 2.01, 2.55, 1.71, and, 2.27, respectively. Gas chromatography analysis for biodiesel compositions produced from P. commune NRC 2016 wild type and its mutants were mainly C16-C18 that suitable to produce biodiesel. The physical properties such as density, viscosity, cloud point, pour point, and cetane number for biodiesels from P. commune NRC 2016 and its mutants were similar to standard biodiesel and could be applied on large scale.