Evaluation of Biodiesel Productivity from Candida parapsilosis Isolated from Marine Sediments of Khor Al-Zubair in Basra, Iraq

Abd Alsada, Waad Blaasm; Abas, Ismaal Jmia

doi:10.30491/jabr.2026.575744.1987

Evaluation of Biodiesel Productivity from Candida parapsilosis Isolated from Marine Sediments of Khor Al-Zubair in Basra, Iraq

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Waad Blaasm Abd Alsada

Ismaal Jmia Abas

Department of Biology, College of Education, Qurna University of Basra, Basra, Iraq

10.30491/jabr.2026.575744.1987

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing environmental impact of fossil fuel consumption has intensified the search for sustainable biofuel alternatives. Oleaginous yeasts are promising microbial sources for biodiesel production due to their ability to accumulate intracellular lipids. This study evaluated lipid production and biodiesel potential of Candida parapsilosis isolated from marine sediments of Khor Al-Zubair, Basrah, Iraq.
Materials and Methods: Seawater samples were collected from Al-Faw Port, Khor Al-Zubair Port, and Shatt Al-Arab (Arvandrud in Persia). Yeast isolates were identified morphologically and molecularly using ITS1–ITS4 primers, with 99.60% sequence similarity to C. parapsilosis (NCBI accession PX091468). Lipid accumulation was induced under nitrogen-limited conditions. Dried biomass was quantified, lipids were extracted using Soxhlet with hexane, and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were produced by acid-catalyzed esterification. FAME composition was analyzed by GC-MS, and the cetane number (CN) was calculated.
Results: The isolate produced 2.260 g/L of dried biomass and 0.6740 g of extracted lipid, corresponding to 29.81% lipid content. Total FAME yield reached 93.11%. Unsaturated fatty acids accounted for 69.48%, with oleic acid (C18:1) predominating at 61.79%, whereas saturated fatty acids constituted 23.63%. The calculated cetane number was 61.29.
Conclusions: Candida parapsilosis demonstrated substantial lipid accumulation and high FAME conversion efficiency, producing biodiesel-compatible fatty acid profiles with a favorable cetane number. These findings support its potential as a sustainable microbial source for biodiesel production.

Keywords

Biodiesel

Candida parapsilosis

Cetane Number

Fatty Acid Methyl Esters

Gas ChromatographyـMass Spectrometry

Lipid