Microalgal compositions and uses thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10053646-B2
Application number	US-201615080458-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 24, 2015
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

Provided are microalgal compositions and methods for their use. The microalgal compositions include lubricants that find use in industrial and other applications.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lubricant comprising an oleaginous microbial biomass, wherein the oleaginous microbial biomass consists essentially of intact cells comprising at least 50% triglyceride oil by dry cell weight.

2. The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of a spray oil, food grade lubricant, a railroad lubricant, a gear lubricant, a bearing lubricant, crankcase lubricant, a cylinder lubricant, a compressor lubricant, a turbine lubricant, a chain lubricant, an oven chain lubricant, wire rope lubricant, a conveyor lubricant, a combustion engine lubricant, an electric motor lubricant, a total-loss lubricant, a textile lubricant, a heat transfer fluid, a release agent, a hydraulic fluid, a metal working fluid, and a grease.

3. The lubricant of claim 1 , comprising one or more of an anti-oxidant, a corrosion inhibitor, a metal deactivator, a binder, a chelating agent, a metal chelator, an oxygen scavenger, an anti-wear agent, an extreme pressure resistance additive, an anti-microbial agent, a biocide, a bacteriocide, a fungicide, a pH adjuster, an emulsifier, a lubricity agent, a vegetable oil, a petroleum derived oil, a high viscosity petroleum hydrocarbon oil, a petroleum derivative, a pour point depressant, a moisture scavenger, a defoamer, an anti-misting agent, an odorant, a surfactant, a humectant, a rheology modifier, or a colorant.

4. The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is a cutting lubricant, a gun drilling lubricant, stamping lubricant, a metal forming lubricant, or a way lubricant.

5. The lubricant of claim 1 , comprising one or more of a napthenic oil, a paraffinc oil, a fatty acid ester, a high molecular weight ester, a glycol ester, an ethylene oxide copolymer, a polypropylene oxide copolymer, a naturally occurring triglyceride, graphite, graphite fluoride, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, tin sulfide, boron nitride.

6. The lubricant of any of claim 1 , wherein the oleaginous microbial biomass is a microalga.

7. The lubricant of claim 6 , wherein the microalgae is of the genus Prototheca, Auxenochlorella, Chlorella , or Parachlorella.

8. The lubricant of claim 7 , wherein the microalgae is of the species Prototheca moriformis.

9. The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the triglyceride oil has a fatty acid profile comprising at least 75% C18:1.

10. The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the triglyceride oil has a fatty acid profile comprising less than 4% polyunsaturated fatty acids.

11. The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the triglyceride oil has a fatty acid profile comprising greater than 55% 18:1.

12. The lubricant claim 1 , wherein the oil has a fatty acid profile of greater than 50% combined C10:0 and C12:0.

13. The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the triglyceride oil has a fatty acid profile comprising at least 20% C18.

14. A method for providing lubrication to a metal surface, the method comprising applying a lubricant to the surface, the lubricant comprising an oleaginous microbial biomass, wherein the oleaginous microbial biomass consists essentially of intact cells comprising at least 50% triglyceride oil.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the lubricant forms a film on the surface.

16. The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the intact cells have a particle size distribution d50 value of from 100 to 500 μm, wherein the d50 value is the median diameter of particle size distribution at 50% of the distribution, where 50% of the particles are above the d50 value and 50% are below the d50 value.

17. The lubricant claim 16 wherein the d50 value is from 200 to 400 μm.

18. The lubricant claim 17 wherein the d50 value is from 300 to 400 μm.

19. The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant has a decreased health risk compared to solid film lubricants that do not comprise intact oleaginous microbial biomass.

20. The lubricant of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant can be more easily removed from a surface in contact with the lubricant after use compared to solid film lubricants that do not comprise intact oleaginous microbial biomass.

Assignees

• Corbion Biotech Inc

Inventors

• Schiff-Deb Celine
• Mckee Adrienne
• Piechocki John
• Springer Staci
• Sell Garrett
• Sullivan Bryce A R

Classifications

• C10M159/08

  Fatty oils · CPC title

• C10N2020/013

  Iodine value · CPC title

• C10M129/20

  Cyclic ethers having 4 or more ring atoms, e.g. furans, dioxolanes · CPC title

• C10M129/40

  monocarboxylic · CPC title

• C10N2020/055

  Particles related characteristics · CPC title