Pasteurisation process for microbial cells and microbial oil

• US 7,517,953 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Original Assignee: DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Inventors: Verkoeijen, Daniel, Schaap, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): NAVARRO, ALBERT MARK
• Application Number:
  US10/518,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20050220958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,125 Days
• Field of Search: 530/350
• US Class Current: 530/350
• CPC Class Codes: A23D 9/00 Other edible oils or fats, e.g. shortenings, cooking oils
• CPC Class Codes: A23D 9/02 characterised by the production or working-up
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/158 Fatty acids; Fats; Products containing oils or fats
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/115 Fatty acids or derivatives thereof; Fats or oils
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/12 Fatty acids or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/85 Products or compounds obtained by fermentation, e.g. yoghurt, beer, wine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/67 Vitamins
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/925 of animal origin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9706 Algae
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9728 Fungi, e.g. yeasts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/04 Heat A61L2/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 57/03 Monocarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 1/10 by extracting
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/005 after treatment of microbial biomass not covered by C12N1/02 - C12N1/08
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6427 Polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA], i.e. having two or more double bonds in their backbone
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6432 Eicosapentaenoic acids [EPA]
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6434 Docosahexenoic acids [DHA]
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6463 : obtained from glyceride producing microorganisms, e.g. single cell oil
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6472 : containing polyunsaturated fatty acid [PUFA] residues, i.e. having two or more double bonds in their backbone

Abstract

An improved pasteurization protocol for pasteurizing 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 pasteurization 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 oxidized) oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Claims

1. An isolated or extracted microbial oil comprising at least 35% of arachidonic acid and which has an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 25.

2. The microbial oil of claim 1, which has an anisidine value from 5 to 25.

3. The microbial oil of claim 1, which has an anisidine value of no more than 20.

4. The microbial oil of claim 3, which has an anisidine value of less than 15.

5. The microbial oil of claim 1, which has a peroxide value of less than 12.

6. The microbial oil of claim 1, which has a peroxide value of less than 1.5.

7. The microbial oil of claim 1, which has been produced by a fungus.

8. The microbial oil of claim 7, wherein the fungus is of the genus Mortierella.

9. The microbial oil of claim 8, wherein the fungus is of the species Mortierella alpina.

10. The microbial oil of claim 1, which is a crude or unrefined oil.

11. A foodstuff and/or food supplement comprising the microbial oil of claim 1.

12. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 11, which is an infant formula.

13. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 11, which is an animal or marine feed composition or supplement.

14. A process of using a microbial oil of claim 10, the process comprising:

subjecting the microbial oil to one or more refining steps to provide refined oil, wherein said one or more refining steps are selected from the group consisting of acid treatment or degumming, alkali treatment or free fatty acid removal, bleaching or pigment removal, filtration, winterization, deodorizing, and polishing.

15. The process according to claim 14 further comprising:

adding the refined oil to a human food or animal feedstuff.

16. The process according to claim 14 further comprising:

adding the refined oil to infant formula.

17. A foodstuff and/or food supplement comprising oil refined according to the process of claim 14.

18. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 17, which is an infant formula.

19. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 17, which is an animal or marine feed composition or supplement.

20. A process of making a microbial oil of claim 1, the process comprising:

isolating or extracting the microbial oil from microbial cells or microorganisms.

66. A process of using a microbial oil of claim 1, the process comprising:

adding the microbial oil to a foodstuff and/or food supplement.

67. The process according to claim 66, wherein the foodstuff and/or food supplement is an infant formula.

68. A process of preparing a foodstuff and/or food supplement, the process comprising:

adding a microbial oil of claim 1 to a foodstuff and/or food supplement.

69. The process according to claim 68, wherein the foodstuff and/or food supplement is an infant formula.

21. An isolated or extracted microbial oil comprising at least 35% of arachidonic acid, which has an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 25 and a triglyceride content of at least 90%.

22. The microbial oil of claim 21, which has an anisidine value from 5 to 25.

23. The microbial oil of claim 21, which has an anisidine value of no more than 20.

24. The microbial oil of claim 23, which has an anisidine value of less than 15.

25. The microbial oil of claim 21, which has a peroxide value of less than 12.

26. The microbial oil of claim 21, which has a peroxide value of less than 1 .5.

27. The microbial oil of claim 21, which has been produced by a fungus.

28. The microbial oil of claim 27, wherein the fungus is of the genus Mortierella.

29. The microbial oil of claim 28, wherein the fungus is of the species Mortierella alpina.

30. The microbial oil of claim 21, which is a crude or unrefined oil.

31. A foodstuff and/or food supplement comprising the microbial oil of claim 21.

32. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 31, which is an infant formula.

33. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 31, which is an animal or marine feed composition or supplement.

34. A process of using a microbial oil of claim 30, the process comprising:

subjecting the microbial oil to one or more refining steps to provide refined oil, wherein said one or more refining steps are selected from the group consisting of acid treatment or degumming, alkali treatment or free fatty acid removal, bleaching or pigment removal, filtration, winterization, deodorizing, and polishing.

35. The process according to claim 34 further comprising:

adding the refined oil to a human food or animal feedstuff.

36. The process according to claim 34 further comprising:

adding the refined oil to infant formula.

37. A foodstuff and/or food supplement comprising oil refined according to the process of claim 34.

38. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 37, which is an infant formula.

39. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 37, which is an animal or marine feed composition or supplement.

40. A process of making a microbial oil of claim 21, the process comprising:

isolating or extracting the microbial oil from microbial cells or microorganisms.

70. A process of using a microbial oil of claim 21, the process comprising:

adding the microbial oil to a foodstuff and/or food supplement.

71. The process according to claim 70, wherein the foodstuff and/or food supplement is an infant formula.

72. A process of preparing a foodstuff and/or food supplement, the process comprising:

adding a microbial oil of claim 21 to a foodstuff and/or food supplement.

73. The process according to claim 72, wherein the foodstuff and/or food supplement is an infant formula.

41. An extracted microbial oil comprising at least 35% of arachidonic acid, which has an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 25 and has been extracted from microbial cells or microorganisms using a solvent.

42. The microbial oil of claim 41, which has an anisidine value from 5 to 25.

43. The microbial oil of claim 42, which has an anisidine value of no more than 20.

44. The microbial oil of claim 43, which has an anisidine value of less than 15.

45. The microbial oil of claim 41, which has a triglyceride content of at least 90%.

46. The microbial oil of claim 41, which has a peroxide value of less than 12.

47. The microbial oil of claim 41, which has a peroxide value of less than 1 .5.

48. The microbial oil of claim 41, which has been produced by a fungus.

49. The microbial oil of claim 48, wherein the fungus is of the genus Mortierella.

50. The microbial oil of claim 49, wherein the fungus is of the species Mortierella alpina.

51. The microbial oil of claim 41, which is a crude or unrefined oil.

52. The microbial oil of claim 41, wherein the solvent is a non-polar solvent.

53. The microbial oil of claim 52, wherein the solvent is a C_1-8 alkane.

54. The microbial oil of claim 53, wherein the solvent is hexane.

55. The microbial oil of claim 41, wherein the solvent is carbon dioxide in liquid form.

56. A foodstuff and/or food supplement comprising the microbial oil of claim 41.

57. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 56, which is an infant formula.

58. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 56, which is an animal or marine feed composition or supplement.

59. A process of using a microbial oil of claim 51, the process comprising:

subjecting the microbial oil to one or more refining steps to provide refined oil, wherein said one or more refining steps are selected from the group consisting of acid treatment or degumming, alkali treatment or free fatty acid removal, bleaching or pigment removal, filtration, winterization, deodorizing, and polishing.

60. The process according to claim 59 further comprising:

adding the refined oil to a human food or animal feedstuff.

61. The process according to claim 60 further comprising:

adding the refined oil to infant formula.

62. A foodstuff and/or food supplement comprising oil refined according to the process of claim 59.

63. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 62, which is an infant formula.

64. The foodstuff and/or food supplement of claim 62, which is an animal or marine feed composition or supplement.

65. A process of making a microbial oil of claim 41, the process comprising:

extracting the microbial oil from microbial cells or microorganisms using a solvent.

74. A process of using a microbial oil of claim 41, the process comprising:

adding the microbial oil to a foodstuff and/or food supplement.

75. The process according to claim 74, wherein the foodstuff and/or food supplement is an infant formula.

76. A process of preparing a foodstuff and/or food supplement, the process comprising:

adding a microbial oil of claim 41 to a foodstuff and/or food supplement.

77. The process according to claim 76, wherein the foodstuff and/or food supplement is an infant formula.