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Solventless extraction process

  • US 7,351,558 B2
  • Filed: 02/20/2004
  • Issued: 04/01/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A process for obtaining lipids from microorganisms comprising:

  • a) growing said microorganisms in a fermentation medium to produce a fermentation broth;

    b) contacting said fermentation broth with a base to dissolve at least a part of any proteins present in said fermentation broth;

    c) increasing the temperature of said fermentation broth to at least about 50°

    C. to lyse cells of said microorganisms to produce a lysed cell mixture;

    d) separating substances of different densities from said lysed cell mixture to produce a phase separated mixture comprising a heavy layer and a light layer wherein said heavy layer comprises an aqueous solution and said light layer comprises emulsified lipids;

    e) removing said heavy layer from said phase separated mixture;

    f) adding an aqueous washing solution to said light layer to form a further mixture;

    g) separating substances of different densities from said mixture of step (f) to produce an additional phase separated mixture comprising an additional heavy layer and an additional light layer;

    h) removing said additional heavy layer from said additional phase separated mixture; and

    i) repeating said steps (f)-(h) until said lipid becomes substantially non-emulsified;

    whereby lipids are obtained from microorganisms.

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