Biological oils and production and uses thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9453172-B2
Application number	US-201213401521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2012
Priority date	Sep 12, 2007
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

The present invention provides biological oils and methods and uses thereof. The biological oils are preferably produced by heterotrophic fermentation of one or more microorganisms using cellulose-containing feedstock as a main source of carbon. The present invention also provides methods of producing lipid-based biofuels and food, nutritional, and pharmaceutical products using the biological oils.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for producing a biological oil comprising at least two steps:
(a) growing an oil-forming microorganism of the genus Schizochytrium , by heterotrophic fermentation in a fermentor that has not been sterilized, wherein the fermentation comprises two stages: (i) a first stage that targets accumulation of a biomass of the microorganism and (ii) a second stage that targets lipid accumulation by the microorganism and wherein 11% to 99% of the unsaturated fatty acids in said biological oil are polyunsaturated fatty acids; and
(b) isolating or purifying the biological oil made in step (a), wherein the isolating comprises extraction of the oil from the biomass.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein growing said oil-forming microorganism from the genus Schizochytrium comprises feeding cellulose to the fermentor.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fermentor is selected from the group consisting of a fiber reinforced fermenter, a metal matrix composite fermenter, a ceramic matrix composite fermenter, a thermoplastic composite fermenter, a metal fermenter, an epoxy lined carbon steel fermenter, a plastic lines carbon steel fermenter, a plastic fermenter, a fiberglass fermenter, and a concrete fermenter.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extraction comprises physical extraction or mechanical extraction.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extraction comprises solventless extraction.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the cellulose comprises saccharified cellulose, hydrolyzed cellulose, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein there is no nutrient limitation during the biomass accumulation stage.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lipid accumulation stage is carried out with nitrogen limitation with a carbon feed.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the lipid accumulation stage is carried out with nitrogen limitation with a carbon feed.

10. A method for producing a biological oil comprising at least two steps:
(a) growing an oil-forming microorganism of the genus Thraustochytrium , by heterotrophic fermentation in a fermentor that has not been sterilized, wherein the fermentation comprises two stages: (i) a first stage that targets accumulation of a biomass of the microorganism and (ii) a second stage that targets lipid accumulation by the microorganism and wherein 11% to 99% of the unsaturated fatty acids in said biological oil are polyunsaturated fatty acids; and
(b) isolating or purifying the biological oil made in step (a), wherein the isolating comprises extraction of the oil from the biomass.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein growing said oil-forming microorganism from the genus Thraustochytrium comprises feeding cellulose to the fermentor.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fermentor is selected from the group consisting of a fiber reinforced fermenter, a metal matrix composite fermenter, a ceramic matrix composite fermenter, a thermoplastic composite fermenter, a metal fermenter, an epoxy lined carbon steel fermenter, a plastic lines carbon steel fermenter, a plastic fermenter, a fiberglass fermenter, and a concrete fermenter.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the extraction comprises physical extraction or mechanical extraction.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the extraction comprises solventless extraction.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the cellulose comprises saccharified cellulose, hydrolyzed cellulose, and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein there is no nutrient limitation during the biomass accumulation stage.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the lipid accumulation stage is carried out with nitrogen limitation with a carbon feed.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the lipid accumulation stage is carried out with nitrogen limitation with a carbon feed.

19. A method for producing a biological oil comprising at least two steps:
(a) growing an oil-forming microorganism of the genus Ulkenia , by heterotrophic fermentation in a fermentor that has not been sterilized, wherein the fermentation comprises two stages: (i) a first stage that targets accumulation of a biomass of the microorganism and (ii) a second stage that targets lipid accumulation by the microorganism and wherein 11% to 99% of the unsaturated fatty acids in said biological oil are polyunsaturated fatty acids; and
(b) isolating or purifying the biological oil made in step (a), wherein the isolating comprises extraction of the oil from the biomass.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein growing said oil-forming microorganism from the genus Ulkenia comprises feeding cellulose to the fermentor.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the fermentor is selected from the group consisting of a fiber reinforced fermenter, a metal matrix composite fermenter, a ceramic matrix composite fermenter, a thermoplastic composite fermenter, a metal fermenter, an epoxy lined carbon steel fermenter, a plastic lines carbon steel fermenter, a plastic fermenter, a fiberglass fermenter, and a concrete fermenter.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the extraction comprises physical extraction or mechanical extraction.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the extraction comprises solventless extraction.

24. The method of claim 3 , wherein the cellulose comprises saccharified cellulose, hydrolyzed cellulose, and combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein there is no nutrient limitation during the biomass accumulation stage.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the lipid accumulation stage is carried out with nitrogen limitation with a carbon feed.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the lipid accumulation stage is carried out with nitrogen limitation with a carbon feed.

Assignees

• Lippmeier James Casey
• Pfeifer Iii Joseph W
• Hansen Jon Milton
• Apt Kirk E
• Barclay William Robert
• Behrens Paul Warren
• Martin David Christian
• Dsm Ip Assets Bv

Inventors

• Lippmeier James Casey
• Pfeifer Iii Joseph W
• Hansen Jon Milton
• Apt Kirk E
• Barclay William Robert
• Behrens Paul Warren
• Martin David Christian

Classifications

• Y02P30/20

  using bio-feedstock · CPC title

• C10L1/026

  for compression ignition · CPC title

• C10L2270/04

  for turbines, planes, power generation · CPC title

• C10L2200/0469

  Renewables or materials of biological origin · CPC title

• C10L1/02 Primary

  essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only · CPC title