Pasteurisation process for microbial cells and microbial oil

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017081684-A1
Application number	US-201615248065-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 26, 2016
Priority date	Jun 19, 2002
Publication date	Mar 23, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An improved pasteurisation protocol for pasteurising microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has three stages, a first heating stage, a second plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a third cooling stage. Both the heating and the cooling stages are rapid, with the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least −0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurisation protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, one obtains a trapezium having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. Not only does this result in a smaller energy input (and so a reduction in costs), but a better quality (and less oxidised) oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

First claim

1 . A process for pasteurizing microbial cells or microorganisms, the process comprising: (a) heating the cells or microorganisms from 40° C. to 60° C. in no more than 30 minutes or (b) heating the cells or microorganisms from 40° C. to 60° C. at a rate greater than 0.5° C./minute or (c) heating the cells or microorganisms from 40° C. to 60° C. in no more than 30 minutes at a rate greater than 0.5° C./minute or (d) heating the cells or microorganisms and maintaining the heated cells or microorganisms at an elevated temperature (T, ° C.) for a time (t, minutes) at a plateau stage, wherein the product T.t is from 140 to 100,800° C.minute.

2 . A process for pasteurizing microbial cells or microorganisms that comprises three stages, the process comprising: (a) a (first) heating stage, a (second) plateau stage at which the cells or microorganisms are maintained at a constant temperature, and (c) a (third) cooling stage.

3 . The process according to claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein a time versus temperature graph produces a trapezium having an area under the time (minutes) versus temperature (° C.) graph below 13,000° C.minute.

4 . The process according to claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein
(a) the plateau stage is maintained at the maximum temperature, and/or
(b) a time (t) versus temperature (T) graph produces a trapezium, and/or
(c) the heating and/or cooling is a linear change in temperature, and/or
(d) the cells or microorganisms are heated at a temperature starting below 40° C. and/or are heated to a temperature above 60° C., and/or
(e) the cells or microorganisms comprise a PUFA or optionally comprise a PUFA-containing microbial oil.

5 . The process according to claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the cells or microorganisms are heated from 40° C. to 60° C. in no more than 15 minutes and/or the cells or microorganisms are heated at a rate of at least 0.6 or 1.0° C./minute.

6 . The process according to claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein
(a) the cells or microorganisms are heated at a rate of at least 2° C./minute;
(b) the pasteurization or plateau temperature is from 60 to 100° C., or optionally from 60 to 85° C.; and/or
(c) the cells or microorganisms are cooled at a rate of at least −0.6 or −1.6° C./minute; and/or
(d) a time (t) versus temperature (T) graph has an area under he time (minutes) versus temperature (° C.) graph below 10,000 or 8,000° C.minute.

7 . A process for obtaining a PUFA or oil from microbial cells or microorganisms, the process comprising a process according to claim 1 or claim 2 and further comprising: extracting or isolating the PUFA or oil from the pasteurized cells or microorganisms.

8 . A process for pasteurizing microbial cells or microorganisms according to claim 2 , the process comprising:
(a) heating the cells or microorganisms comprising (i) heating from 40° C. to 60° C. in no more than 30 minutes, or (ii) heating from 40° C. to 60° C. at a rate greater than 0.5° C./minute, or (iii) heating from 40° C. to 60° C. in no more than 30 minutes at a rate greater than 0.5° C./minute; (b) a plateau stage at which the cells or microorganisms are maintained at a constant temperature; and (c) cooling the cells or microorganisms.

9 . The process according to claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the cells or microorganisms comprise a yeast, optionally a Pichia or a Saccharomyces ; a bacteria, optionally a Propionibacterium ; an algae, optionally a dinoflagellates, a Porphyridium , a Nitszchia , or a Crypthecodinium ; or, a fungi, optionally a Murorales , a Mortierella , a Phycomyces , a Blakeslea or an Aspergillus.

10 . A polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) or microbial oil obtained by the process according to claim 7 .

11 . A microbial oil comprising a triglyceride content of at least 90%; a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5, or optionally less than 1.0; and/or an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 15, or optionally less than 12.

12 . The microbial oil of claim 11 wherein (a) PUFA comprises a C 18 , C 20 , or C 22 ω-3 or ω-6 fatty acid; (b) PUFA content is at least 40%; (c) PUFA comprises arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and/or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); and/or (d) the oil is a crude or unrefined oil.

Assignees

• Dsm Ip Assets Bv

Inventors

• Schaap Albert
• Verkoeijen Daniel

Classifications

• A61P43/00

  Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00 · CPC title

• A61P25/00

  Drugs for disorders of the nervous system · CPC title

• A61K8/9728

  Fungi, e.g. yeasts · CPC title

• A61K8/9706

  Algae · CPC title

• A61Q19/00

  Preparations for care of the skin · CPC title