Method for drying biomass

• US 10,531,679 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evonik Operations GmbH (Rag-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
• Inventors: Rudinger, Nicolas, Rabe, Christian, Blumke, Wilfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Becker, Drew E
• Application Number:
  US14/904,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20160183565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 426 53- 54, 426643, 426 1, 426443, 426465-467, 426805, 426507, 426312
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/008 from microorganisms A23J1/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/009 from unicellular algae seaweed A23J1/006
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 1/18 from yeasts
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 3/20 Proteins from microorganisms or unicellular algae
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 3/347 of proteins from microorganisms or unicellular algae
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/12 by fermentation of natural products, e.g. of vegetable material, animal waste material or biomass
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/16 Addition of microorganisms or extracts thereof, e.g. single-cell proteins, to feeding-stuff compositions A23K10/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/18 of live microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/158 Fatty acids; Fats; Products containing oils or fats
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 30/20 Dehydration of green fodder A23K30/12
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 40/10 by agglomeration; by granulation, e.g. making powders
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/80 for aquatic animals, e.g. fish, crustaceans or molluscs
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/40 by drying or kilning; Subsequent reconstitution
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/50 Fluidised-bed drying
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1882 Polyunsaturated fatty acids
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/202 Algae extracts
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2300/10 Drying, dehydrating
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2300/14 Extraction
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/12 Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor as new plants A01H13/00

Abstract

It has been found according to the invention, that a biomass containing an oxidation-sensitive material of value may be dried under particularly mild conditions by a method in which the drying gas is passed over the biomass to be dried in cycle gas mode.

Claims

1. A method for drying a microbial biomass containing an oxidation-sensitive material of value, comprising a drying step in which drying gas is passed over the biomass in cycle gas mode, wherein the drying gas has an oxygen content of 5 to 13% by weight and the oxidation-sensitive material is an unsaturated fatty acid;

wherein the drying gas is produced by a method consisting of heating air.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidation-sensitive material of value is an omega-3 fatty acid or an omega-6 fatty acid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the drying step is a fluidized bed process in which the fluidized bed has a temperature of 45 to 95°

C.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass is both dried and granulated in one step.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the fluidized bed process is operated in continuous and static mode, fermentation broth containing biomass is continuously sprayed in and the finished product is continuously discharged.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises cells from the taxon Labyrinthulomycetes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises cells from the family Thraustochytriaceae.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises cells from the genera Thraustochytrium, Schizochytrium or Ulkenia.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomass used in the drying step is in the form of fermentation broth with a solid content of 20 to 40% by weight.