Abstract: A process for the production of lipids from biomass derived from guayule plants comprising: obtaining a hydrolysate comprising 5 carbon atom (C5) sugars from biomass derived from guayule plants, said 5 carbon atom (C5) sugars being present in said hydrolysate in a quantity greater than or equal to 80% by weight, preferably ranging from 85% by weight to 99% by weight, with respect to the total weight of said hydrolysate; feeding said hydrolysate to a fermentation device in the presence of at least one oleaginous yeast to obtain a fermentation broth; at the end of fermentation, subjecting said fermentation broth to separation obtaining an aqueous suspension of oleaginous cellular biomass comprising lipids and an aqueous phase. The lipids thus obtained can be advantageously used in the production of biofuel such as, for example, biodiesel or green diesel that can be used as such, or in mixtures with other fuels, for automotive transport.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reaction device with air-lift type internal circulation which includes:—a vertical cylindrical volume;—a vertical element positioned within said volume in such a way as to form an interspace with the walls of said volume, having a cross-section which is circular and orthogonal to the vertical axis of the element and with a variable internal diameter along said axis, said element being denoted “draft tube”;—at least one gas distributor positioned on the bottom of said device; said device being characterised in that:—the ratio between the diameter of the internal vertical element and the internal diameter of the cylindrical volume ranges from 0.05 to 0.5, and—the ratio between the height of the vertical element and the height of the cylindrical volume is less than 0.5.