Methods of and systems for isolating carotenoids and omega-3 rich oil products from algae

• US 8,153,137 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC (PT Perusahaan Perkebunan London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk)
• Original Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC (PT Perusahaan Perkebunan London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk)
• Inventors: Kale, Aniket
• Primary Examiner(s): Mi, Qiuwen
• Application Number:
  US13/268,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 186 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 424/195.17
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/00 Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 11/04 of solutions which are liquid
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 1/10 by extracting
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 1/108 after-treatment, e.g. of miscellae
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A method of isolating nutraceuticals products from algae is provided. A method of isolating carotenoids and omega-3 rich oil from algae includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass and adding a first ethanol fraction to the algal biomass. The method also includes separating a first substantially solid biomass fraction from a first substantially liquid fraction comprising proteins and combining the first substantially solid biomass fraction with a second ethanol fraction. The method further includes separating a second substantially solid biomass fraction from a second substantially liquid fraction comprising polar lipids and combining the second substantially solid biomass fraction with a third ethanol solvent fraction. The method also includes separating a third substantially solid biomass fraction from a third substantially liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids, wherein the third substantially solid biomass fraction comprises carbohydrates and separating the neutral lipids into carotenoids and omega-3 rich oil.

Claims

1. A method of isolating carotenoids and omega-3 rich oil from algae, comprising:

dewatering intact algal cells to make a wet algal biomass;

adding a first alcohol fraction to the wet algal biomass in a ratio of about 1 part alcohol to about 1 part algal biomass by weight;

separating a first solid biomass fraction from a first liquid fraction comprising proteins;

combining the first solid biomass fraction with a second alcohol fraction in a ratio of about 1 part alcohol to about 1 part solids by weight;

separating a second solid biomass fraction from a second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids;

combining the second solid biomass fraction with a third alcohol solvent fraction in a ratio of about 1 part alcohol to about 1 part solid biomass by weight;

separating a third solid biomass fraction from a third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids, wherein the third solid biomass fraction comprises carbohydrates, and wherein the first liquid fraction has a higher protein concentration than the second and third liquid fractions, the second liquid fraction has a higher polar lipids concentration than the first and third liquid fractions, and the third liquid fraction has a higher neutral lipids concentration than the first and second liquid fractions; and

separating the neutral lipids into carotenoids and omega-3 rich oil.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising isolating carotenoids, omega-3 rich oil, carbohydrates and polar lipids.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising isolating the polar lipids from components that are not polar lipid components.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the polar lipids into at least one of lubricants, detergents, and food additives.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising isolating carotenoids from non-carotenoid components.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third solvent sets is comprised of ethanol.

7. A method of isolating carotenoids and omega-3 rich oil from algae, comprising:

dewatering intact algal cells to make a wet algal biomass;

adding a first alcohol fraction to the wet algal biomass in a ratio of about 1 part alcohol to about 1 part algal biomass by weight;

separating a first solid biomass fraction from a first liquid fraction comprising proteins;

combining the first solid biomass fraction with a second alcohol fraction in a ratio of about 1 part alcohol to about 1 part solids by weight;

separating a second solid biomass fraction from a second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids;

combining the second solid biomass fraction with a third alcohol solvent fraction in a ratio of about 1 part alcohol to about 1 part solid biomass by weight;

separating a third solid biomass fraction from a third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids, wherein the third solid biomass fraction comprises carbohydrates, and wherein the first liquid fraction is more polar than the second and third liquid fractions, the second liquid fraction is less polar than the first fraction, but more polar than the third fraction, and the third fraction is less polar than the first and second liquid fractions; and

separating the neutral lipids into carotenoids and omega-3 rich oil.

8. A method of isolating carotenoids and omega-3 rich oil from algae, comprising:

dewatering intact algal cells to make a wet algal biomass;

adding a first alcohol fraction to the wet algal biomass in a ratio of about 1 part alcohol to about 1 part algal biomass by weight;

separating a first solid biomass fraction from a first liquid fraction comprising proteins;

combining the first solid biomass fraction with a second alcohol fraction in a ratio of about 1 part alcohol to about 1 part solids by weight;

separating a second solid biomass fraction from a second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids;

combining the second solid biomass fraction with a third alcohol solvent fraction in a ratio of about 1 part alcohol to about 1 part solid biomass by weight;

separating a third solid biomass fraction from a third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids, wherein the third solid biomass fraction comprises carbohydrates, and wherein the first liquid fraction contains more water than the second and third liquid fractions, the second liquid fraction contains less water than the first fraction, but more water than the third fraction, and the third fraction contains less water than the first and second liquid fractions; and

separating the neutral lipids into carotenoids and omega-3 rich oil.