Selective extraction of proteins from saltwater algae

• US 8,513,383 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• 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): Carlson, Karen Cochrane
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, SAMUEL W
• Application Number:
  US13/081,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 530/369
• 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

Methods for selective extraction and fractionation of algal proteins from an algal biomass or algal culture are disclosed. A method of selective removal of products from an algal biomass provides for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal proteins. These proteins can be used as renewable sources of proteins for animal feedstocks and human food. Further, lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of proteins can be used to generate renewable fuels.

Claims

1. A method of selectively extracting algal proteins from a saltwater algal biomass comprising intact algal cells or saltwater algal culture comprising intact algal cells, the method comprising:

a. providing a saltwater algal biomass comprising intact algal cells or saltwater algal culture comprising intact algal cells that comprise globulin proteins, albumin proteins, glutelin proteins, and prolamin proteins;

b. heating and mixing the saltwater algal biomass comprising the intact algal cells or saltwater algal culture comprising the intact algal cells to generate a first heated extraction mixture comprised of a first liquid fraction comprising globulin proteins, and a first algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells comprising albumin proteins, glutelin proteins, and prolamin proteins;

c. separating the first liquid fraction comprising globulin proteins, from the first algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells;

d. mixing the first algal biomass fraction comprising intact algal cells with water and heating to generate a second heated extraction mixture comprised of a second liquid fraction comprising albumin proteins, and a second algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells comprising glutelin proteins and prolamin proteins;

e. separating the second liquid fraction comprising albumin proteins, from the second algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells;

f. mixing the second algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells with water and heating to generate a third heated extraction mixture comprised of a third liquid fraction and a third algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells;

g. raising the pH of the third heated extraction mixture;

h. separating the third liquid fraction, comprising glutelin proteins, from the third algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells comprising prolamin proteins;

i. mixing the third biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells with a solvent set to generate a fourth extraction mixture comprised of a fourth liquid fraction comprising prolamin proteins and a fourth algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells;

j. heating the fourth extraction mixture;

k. separating at the fourth liquid fraction comprising prolamin proteins, from the fourth algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells, wherein the first liquid fraction has a higher concentration of globulin proteins than the second, third and fourth liquid fractions, and the second liquid fraction has a higher concentration of albumin proteins than the first, third, and fourth liquid fractions, and the third liquid fraction has a higher concentration of glutelin proteins than the first, second, and fourth liquid fractions, and the fourth liquid fraction has a higher concentration of prolamin proteins than the first, second, and third liquid fractions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein any one or more of the separating steps is performed by centrifugation, filtration, flotation, sedimentation, or any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth heated extraction mixtures is maintained at a heated temperature below the boiling point of the extraction mixture.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth heated extraction mixtures is maintained at a heated temperature below the boiling point of the extraction mixture for between about 20 to about 60 minutes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells is enriched in lipids.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent set comprises ethanol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent set comprises an alcohol.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering the albumin protein from the liquid fraction.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering the globulin protein from the liquid fraction.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering the glutelin protein from the liquid fraction.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering the prolamin protein from the liquid fraction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, or fourth extraction mixture is under a pressure greater than or equal to atmospheric pressure.

13. A method of selectively extracting globulin proteins from a saltwater algal biomass comprising intact algal cells or saltwater algal culture comprising intact saltwater algal cells, the method comprising:

a. providing a saltwater algal biomass comprising intact algal cells or saltwater algal culture comprising intact algal cells that comprise globulin proteins and albumin proteins;

b. heating and mixing the saltwater algal biomass comprising the intact algal cells or saltwater algal culture comprising the intact algal cells to generate an extraction mixture comprising a heated liquid fraction comprising globulin proteins and a heated algal biomass fraction comprising albumin proteins; and

c. separating the liquid fraction comprising globulin proteins from the heated algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells, wherein the liquid fraction has a higher concentration of globulin proteins than the heated algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells and the heated algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells has a higher concentration of albumin proteins than the liquid fraction.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the extraction mixture is heated to a temperature below the boiling point of the extraction mixture.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising recovering the globulin protein from the liquid fraction.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the extraction mixture is under a pressure greater than or equal to atmospheric pressure.

17. A method of selectively extracting albumin proteins from a saltwater algal biomass comprising intact algal cells or saltwater algal culture comprising intact algal cells, the method comprising:

a. providing a saltwater algal biomass comprising intact algal cells or saltwater algal culture comprising intact algal cells that comprise albumin proteins and glutelin proteins;

b. adding water to the saltwater algal biomass comprising the intact algal cells or saltwater algal culture comprising the intact algal cells;

c. heating and mixing the saltwater algal biomass comprising the intact algal cells or saltwater algal culture comprising the intact algal cells and water mixture to generate an extraction mixture comprising a heated liquid fraction comprising albumin proteins, and a heated algal biomass fraction comprising glutelin proteins; and

d. separating the liquid fraction comprising albumin proteins from the heated algal biomass fraction comprising the intact algal cells, wherein the heated liquid fractions has a higher concentration of albumin proteins than the heated algal biomass fraction and the heated algal biomass fraction has a higher concentration of glutelin proteins than the liquid fraction.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the saltwater algal biomass comprising the intact algal cells or saltwater algal culture comprising the intact algal cells is heated to a temperature below the boiling point of the extraction mixture, prior to separating.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising recovering the albumin protein from the liquid fraction.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the extraction mixture is under a pressure greater than or equal to atmospheric pressure.