Algae-based bioplastics and methods of making

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11725182-B2
Application number	US-201816753877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2018
Priority date	Oct 9, 2017
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

Provided for are methods of producing triacylglycerol-accumulated microalgae, methods for making bioplastics from triacylglycerol-accumulated microalgae, methods for making alga-mixed plastics, and products including these bioplastics. Methods of triacylglycerol accumulation using centrifugation are also provided. Products such as plastic beads and other consumer products can be made from the bioplastics described herein.

First claim

I claim at least the following:

1. A bioplastic mass comprising triacylglycerol-accumulated Chlamydomonas and an additive;
wherein the additive is selected from an oxidizer, a plasticizer, and a combination thereof; and
wherein the triacylglycerol is accumulated by centrifugation of Chlamydomonas during a stationary phase of culturing.

2. The bioplastic mass of claim 1 , wherein the triacylglycerol-accumulated Chlamydomonas is crosslinked.

3. The bioplastic mass of claim 2 , further comprising Chlorella , wherein the triacylglycerol-accumulated Chlamydomonas is crosslinked with Chlorella.

4. The bioplastic mass of claim 1 , wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of ammonium persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, sodium persulfate, polyethylene, glycerol, and a combination thereof.

5. The bioplastic mass of claim 1 , wherein the triacylglycerol-accumulated Chlamydomonas is produced by centrifugation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

6. The bioplastic mass of claim 1 , wherein the triacylglycerol-accumulated Chlamydomonas comprises about 38 to 72 μg of triacylglycerol per 10 6 cells.

7. The bioplastic mass of claim 1 , wherein the triacylglycerol-accumulated Chlamydomonas comprises about 1% (mol/mol) or less of unsaturated C18 fatty acids in a total amount of the triacylglycerol.

8. A bioplastic mass comprising triacylglycerol-accumulated Chlamydomonas , wherein the triacylglycerol-accumulated Chlamydomonas comprises about 38 to 72 μg of triacylglycerol per 10 6 cells and about 1% (mol/mol) or less of unsaturated C18 fatty acids in a total amount of the triacylglycerol.

9. The bioplastic mass according to claim 8 , wherein the amount of triacylglycerol accumulated in the Chlamydomonas after incubation is from about 200% to about 400% higher than triacylglycerol accumulation produced by microalgae subjected to stress conditions other than centrifugation and a lower percentage of C18 fatty acid methyl esters than in a comparable triacylglycerol-accumulated microalgae produced by nitrogen depletion.

10. The bioplastic mass according to claim 8 , wherein the accumulated triacylglycerol triacylglycerol-accumulated Chlamydomonas is crosslinked with Chlorella at about 120° C., and wherein the bioplastic mass further comprises an additive,
wherein the additive comprises about 5% by weight relative to dry weight of the bioplastic mass (w/dw) to about 15% w/dw of the bioplastic mass, and wherein the additive is selected from ammonium persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, sodium persulfate, polyethylene, glycerol, and a combination thereof.

Assignees

• Univ Louisiana State
• Board Of Supervisors Of Louisiana State Univ

Inventors

• Kato Naohiro

Classifications

• C12N1/12 Primary

  Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor (as new plants A01H13/00) · CPC title

• A01G33/00

  Cultivation of seaweed {or algae} · CPC title

• C08H99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass {, e.g. flours, kernels} · CPC title

• C08L99/00

  Compositions of natural macromolecular compounds or of derivatives thereof not provided for in groups C08L89/00 - C08L97/00 · CPC title

• C12P7/6463

  obtained from glyceride producing microorganisms, e.g. single cell oil · CPC title