Production of docosahexaenoic acid by dinoflagellates
First Claim
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1. A method of producing a single cell edible oil containing at least about 20% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in triglyceride form comprising:
- cultivating heterotrophic microalgae of the class Dinophyceae capable of producing said single cell oil in an aerated fermentor containing a nutrient solution having a limiting nitrogen source and an oxygen level of at least about 10% of air saturation level and continuing cultivation to achieve a cell density of at least about 10 grams biomass per liter of nutrient solution,wherein the concentration of the nitrogen source in the nutrient solution is limited sufficiently to induce said microalgae to produce the single cell oil at a concentration of at least about 2 grams per liter of nutrient solution, andrecovering said single cell oil.
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Abstract
This invention relates to a process for producing a single cell edible oil containing DHA, to the oil itself and to uses for the oil. Marine microorganisms are cultivated in fermentors and induced to produce the single cell oil which subsequently is recovered by extraction with solvents.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of producing a single cell edible oil containing at least about 20% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in triglyceride form comprising:
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cultivating heterotrophic microalgae of the class Dinophyceae capable of producing said single cell oil in an aerated fermentor containing a nutrient solution having a limiting nitrogen source and an oxygen level of at least about 10% of air saturation level and continuing cultivation to achieve a cell density of at least about 10 grams biomass per liter of nutrient solution, wherein the concentration of the nitrogen source in the nutrient solution is limited sufficiently to induce said microalgae to produce the single cell oil at a concentration of at least about 2 grams per liter of nutrient solution, and recovering said single cell oil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 25)
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19. A method for the production of a single-cell-edible oil containing at least 20% DHA in triglyceride form and lacking a fishy taste comprising:
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a) adding to a fermentor initially containing a nutrient solution comprising about one-quarter strength artificial seawater, 1-2% glucose and 0.4-0.8% yeast extract, about 0.5-1.0 g dry wt/liter (about 105 cells/ml) of C. cohnii, b) cultivating said C. cohnii at a temperature of from about 15°
C. to about 34°
C. and a pH of from about 5.0 to 9.0,c) incrementally adding glucose and yeast extract to said nutrient solution for about 56 hours, d) adding additional glucose to said nutrient solution for about 16 additional hours to induce said C. cohnii to produce a single-cell edible oil, e) maintaining a dissolved oxygen content of about 20-30% of air saturation level throughout said cultivation, f) harvesting said C. cohnii after about 60 to 90 hours, and g) recovering said single-cell edible oil. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification