Abstract: Methods for producing lipids from lignocellulosic biomass are provided. Sugars produced by pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass are utilized by heterotrophic oleaginous fungi or yeast to increase their biomass and to produce lipids without prior detoxification of the pretreated biomass. After the fungi/yeast are cultured with the sugars, solid residues from the pretreated biomass are combined with the fungi/yeast under conditions which allow simultaneous 1) enzymatic degradation of cellulose and/or hemicellulose to produce sugars and 2) fermentation of the sugars for further increases in biomass and lipid production.

Abstract: Methods for facilitating sugar release from lignocellulosic biomass and for utilizing the sugars for microbial lipid (e.g. biofuel) production are provided. The methods involve pretreating lignocellulosic biomass using various oxidizing agents (ozone, peroxone, etc.) at a temperature not higher than 50° C. and pressure no higher than 1.5 atm to render the biomass more accessible to enzymatic hydrolytic degradation into sugars and utilizing soluble sugars for fermenting oleaginous microorganism to produce microbial lipids.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing lipids which may be used as biofuel are provided. Sugars produced by pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass are utilized by heterotrophic oleaginous fungi or yeast to increase their biomass and to produce lipids without prior detoxification of the pretreated biomass. After the fungi/yeast are cultured with the sugars, solid residues from the pretreated biomass are combined with the fungi/yeast under conditions which allow simultaneous 1) enzymatic degradation of cellulose and/or hemicellulose to produce sugars and 2) fermentation of the sugars for further increases in biomass and lipid production.