2024 AIChE Annual Meeting
Phenotypic Characterization of Halotolerant Yeasts for the Valorization of Seaweed Biomass
Seaweed biomass has enormous potential as a sustainable feedstock for the production of fuels, chemicals, and other valuable products. Using seawater, as opposed to freshwater, for the fermentation of seaweed sugars greatly increases the economic and environmental sustainability of these processes. Therefore, developing novel halotolerant yeasts for industrial applications in seawater offers great opportunities for these alternative feedstocks. Here, we present the results of screening over 40 different species of halotolerant yeasts for their ability to grow at the salinity of ocean water or higher. Based on the highest growth rates at increasing salt concentrations, a narrow selection of yeasts were further characterized for their ability to utilize different carbon sources and produce chemicals of interest. This led to the identification of some yeasts species with growth rates and ethanol yields that compare favorably to those of S. cerevisiae in fresh water glucose media. This work establishes the potential of previously uncharacterized halotolerant yeasts for further development into industrial hosts to valorize seaweed biomass, using seawater, for the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals.