Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation(ssf) of lignocellulosic biomass for single cell oil production by oleaginous microorganisms

A method of producing biofuel from lignocellulosic biomass, comprising the steps of:

• i) pretreating said lignocellulosic biomass to form a lignocellulosic feedstock;
• ii) separating said lignocellulosic feedstock into a solids fraction and a liquid fraction;
• iii) culturing at least one species of oleaginous yeast or fungus in media comprising said liquid fraction under conditions that allow said oleaginous yeast or fungus to produce and accumulate lipids, and
• iv) culturing at least one species of oleaginous yeast or fungus in media comprising said solids fraction and one or more cellulase and/or hemicellulase enzymes under conditions which allow said cellulase and/or hemicellulase enzymes to digest cellulose and/or hemicellulose in said solids fraction, and which allow said oleaginous yeast or fungus to employ fermentation to produce and accumulate lipids;
• v) extracting said lipids produced in steps iii) and iv) from said oleaginous yeast or fungus;
• and
• vi) producing biofuel from said lipids.