Enhanced biomass and lipid production by light exposure with mixed culture of Rhodotorula glutinis and Chlorella vulgaris using acetate as sole carbon source

•Acetate was applied to produce microbial biomass and lipids by yeast/algae co-culture.•Co-culture facilitates acetate utilization efficiency thus reducing culture period.•Increasing algae proportion promoted biomass productivity and acetate assimilation.•Light-exposed synergetic effect further increased cell growth and lipid titer.•More neutral lipids and linolenic acid were accumulated with light-exposed co-culture.