Current biological pathways to produce biofuel intermediates amenable to separations and catalytic upgrading to hydrocarbon fuels are not cost effective. Previously， oleaginous yeasts have been investigated primarily for lipid production. However， yeasts store neutral lipids intracellularly making recovery difficult and expensive. In addition， once recovered from the cells， lipids are difficult to blend directly with the existing fuels without upgrading. We have， therefore， begun to investigate secreted fatty acid-derived products which can be easily recovered and upgraded to fuels.
Current biological pathways to produce biofuel intermediates amenable to separations and catalytic upgrading to hydrocarbon fuels are not cost effective. Previously， oleaginous yeasts have been investigated primarily for lipid production. However， yeasts store neutral lipids intracellularly making recovery difficult and expensive. In addition， once recovered from the cells， lipids are difficult to blend directly with the existing fuels without upgrading. We have， therefore， begun to investigate secreted fatty acid-derived products which can be easily recovered and upgraded to fuels.
