Pasteurisation process for microbial cells and microbial oil

• US 8,217,151 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG), DSM Services USA (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Original Assignee: DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Inventors: Schaap, Albert, Verkoeijen, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): NAVARRO, ALBERT MARK
• Application Number:
  US12/382,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20090285969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 530/412
• 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 pasteurisation protocol for pasteurising 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 pasteurisation 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 oxidised) oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Claims

1. A process for obtaining arachidonic acid (ARA) or an oil comprising ARA from microbial cells, the process comprising

(a) a process for pasteurizing the microbial cells, which comprises

(i) heating the cells from 40°

C. to 60°

C. in no more than 30 minutes;

or

(ii) heating the cells from 40°

C. to 60°

C. at a rate greater than 0.5°

C./minute;

and

(b) extracting or isolating the ARA or the oil from the pasteurized cells.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from 40°

C. to 60°

C. in no more than 30 minutes.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from heating the cells from 40°

C. to 60°

C. at a rate greater than 0.5°

C./minute.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from 40°

C. to 70°

C. in no more than 30 minutes.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from 40°

C. to 70°

C. at a rate greater than 0.5°

C./minute.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from 40°

C. to 70°

C. at a rate greater than 0.6°

C./minute.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from 40°

C. to 70°

C. in no more than 15 minutes or at a rate greater than 1.0°

C./minute.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells so that their temperature rises above 80°

C.

9. The process according to claim 8, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells so that their temperature rises above 90°

C.

10. The process according to claim 9, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells so that their temperature rises above 100°

C.

11. The process according to claim 10, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells so that their temperature rises above 110°

C.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells up to a temperature range within 100 to 180°

C.

13. The process according to claim 12, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells up to a temperature range within 120 to 160°

C.

14. The process according to claim 1, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells at a temperature starting below 40°

C.

15. The process according to claim 1, wherein heating is performed by passing steam into a fermenter in which fermentation of the cells has occurred.

16. The process according to claim 1, wherein the cells are of the species Mortierella alpina.

17. The process according to claim 10, wherein (b) comprises extracting an oil from the pasteurized microbial cells, said oil comprising at least 40% ARA.

18. The process according to claim 1, wherein (b) comprises extracting the oil from the pasteurized microbial cells using a solvent.

19. The process according to claim 18, wherein (b) comprises extracting a crude ARA-containing oil from the pasteurized cells and subjecting the crude oil to one or more refining steps.

20. The process according to claim 1, which further, comprises incorporating the oil in a foodstuff, food supplement, or infant formula.

21. The process according to claim 1, which further comprises blending the oil with another oil.

69. The process according to claim 4, wherein (b) comprises extracting an oil from the pasteurized microbial cells, said oil comprising at least 40% ARA.

70. The process according to claim 5, wherein (b) comprises extracting an oil from the pasteurized microbial cells, said oil comprising at least 40% ARA.

71. The process according to claim 12, wherein (b) comprises extracting an oil from the pasteurized microbial cells, said oil comprising at least 40% ARA.

72. The process according to claim 13, wherein (b) comprises extracting an oil from the pasteurized microbial cells, said oil comprising at least 40% ARA.

22. A process for obtaining an oil comprising at least 35% of arachidonic acid (ARA) from microbial cells, the process comprising

(a) a process for pasteurizing the microbial cells, which comprises

(i) heating the cells from 40°

C. to 60°

C. in no more than 30 minutes;

or

(ii) heating the cells from 40°

C. to 60°

C. at a rate greater than 0.5°

C./minute;

and

(b) extracting or isolating the oil from the pasteurized cells.

23. The process according to claim 22, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from 40°

C. to 60°

C. In no more than 30 minutes.

24. The process according to claim 22, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from heating the cells from 40°

C. to 60°

C. at a rate greater than 0.5°

C./minute.

25. The process according to claim 22, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from 40°

C. to 70°

C. in no more than 30 minutes.

26. The process according to claim 22, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from 40°

C. to 70°

C. at a rate greater than 0.5°

C./minute.

27. The process according to claim 26, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from 40°

C. to 70°

C. at a rate greater than 0.6°

C./minute.

28. The process according to claim 22, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells from 40°

C. to 70°

C. in no more than 15 minutes or at a rate greater than 1.0°

C./minute.

29. The process according to claim 22, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells so that their temperature rises above 80°

C.

30. The process according to claim 29, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells so that their temperature rises above 90°

C.

31. The process according to claim 30, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells so that their temperature rises above 100°

C.

32. The process according to claim 31, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells so that their temperature rises above 110°

C.

33. The process according to claim 22, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells up to a temperature range within 100 to 180°

C.

34. The process according to claim 33, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells up to a temperature range within 120 to 160°

C.

35. The process according to claim 22, wherein (a) comprises heating the cells at a temperature starting below 40°

C.

36. The process according to claim 22, wherein heating is performed by passing steam into a fermenter in which fermentation of the cells has occurred.

37. The process according to claim 22, wherein the cells are of the species Mortierella alpina.

38. The process according to claim 22, wherein (b) comprises extracting an oil from the pasteurized microbial cells, said oil comprising at least 40% ARA.

39. The process according to claim 22, wherein (b) comprises extracting the oil from the pasteurized microbial cells using a solvent.

40. The process according to claim 39, wherein (b) comprises extracting a crude ARA-containing oil from the pasteurized cells and subjecting the crude oil to one or more refining steps.

41. The process according to claim 22, which further comprises incorporating the oil in a foodstuff, food supplement, or infant formula.

42. The process according to claim 22, which further comprises blending the oil with another oil.

43. A process for obtaining an oil comprising arachidonic acid (ARA) from microbial cells of the species Mortierella alpina, the process comprising

(a) a process for pasteurizing the microbial cells, which comprises heating the cells and so maintaining the cells at an elevated temperature at a plateau stage wherein the temperature at the plateau stage is above 100°

C.; and

(b) extracting or isolating the oil from the pasteurized cells.

44. The process according to claim 43, wherein the temperature at the plateau stage is above 110°

C.

45. The process according to claim 43, wherein the temperature at the plateau stage is from 100-180°

C.

46. The process according to claim 45, wherein the temperature at the plateau stage is from 110-160°

C.

47. The process according to claim 45, wherein the temperature range at the plateau stage is from 100-140°

C.

48. The process according to claim 43, wherein (a) comprises maintaining the cells at an elevated temperature (T, °

C.) for a time (t, minutes) at a plateau stage wherein the product tT is from 140 to 100,800°

C.minute.

49. The process according to claim 43, wherein the oil comprises at least 35% ARA.

50. The process according to claim 49, wherein the oil comprises at least 40% ARA.

51. The process according to claim 43, wherein (b) comprises extracting the oil from the pasteurized microbial cells using a solvent.

52. The process according to claim 43, wherein (b) comprises extracting a crude ARA-containing oil from the pasteurized cells and subjecting the crude oil to one or more refining steps.

53. The process according to claim 43, which further comprises incorporating the oil in a foodstuff, food supplement, or infant formula.

54. The process according to claim 43, which further comprises blending the oil with another oil.

73. The process according to claim 46, wherein the oil comprises at least 35% ARA.

74. The process according to claim 73, wherein the oil comprises at least 40% ARA.

55. A process for obtaining an oil comprising at least 35% arachidonic acid (ARA) from microbial cells, the process comprising

(a) a process for pasteurizing the microbial cells, which comprises heating the cells and so maintaining the cells at an elevated temperature at a plateau stage wherein the temperature at the plateau stage is above 80°

C.; and

(b) extracting or isolating the oil from the pasteurized cells.

56. The process according to claim 55, wherein the temperature at the plateau stage is above 100°

C.

57. The process according to claim 56, wherein the temperature at the plateau stage is above 110°

C.

58. The process according to claim 55, wherein the temperature at the plateau stage is from 80-160°

C.

59. The process according to claim 58, wherein the temperature at the plateau stage is from 100-160°

C.

60. The process according to claim 59, wherein the temperature at the plateau stage is from 110-160°

C.

61. The process according to claim 59, wherein the temperature at the plateau stage is from 100-140°

C.

62. The process according to claim 55, wherein (a) comprises maintaining the cells at an elevated temperature (T, °

C.) for a time (t, minutes) at a plateau stage wherein the product tT is from 140 to 100,800°

C.minute.

63. The process according to claim 55, wherein the cells are of the species Mortierella alpina.

64. The process according to claim 55, wherein the oil comprises at least 40% ARA.

65. The process according to claim 55, wherein (b) comprises extracting the oil from the pasteurized microbial cells using a solvent.

66. The process according to claim 65, wherein (b) comprises extracting a crude ARA-containing oil from the pasteurized cells and subjecting the crude oil to one or more refining steps.

67. The process according to claim 55, which further comprises incorporating the oil in a foodstuff, food supplement or infant formula.

68. The process according to claim 55, which further comprises blending the refined oil with another oil.

75. The process according to claim 56, wherein the oil comprises at least 40% ARA.

76. The process according to claim 60, wherein the oil comprises at least 40% ARA.