Modified lipids produced from oil-bearing microbial biomass and oils

• US 8,822,176 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Corbion Biotech, Inc. (Corbion NV)
• Original Assignee: Solazyme Inc.
• Inventors: Day, Anthony G., Brooks, Geoffrey, Franklin, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Hanley, Susan
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NGHI V
• Application Number:
  US13/889,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20130295268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 435/41, 435/257.1, 424/195.17
• US Class Current: 435/41
• CPC Class Codes: A23D 7/00 Edible oil or fat compositions containing an aqueous phase, e.g. margarines
• CPC Class Codes: A23D 9/00 Other edible oils or fats, e.g. shortenings, cooking oils
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 3/02 by chemical reaction C11B3/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 9/26 containing oxygen C11D9/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6418 by hydrolysis of fatty acid esters
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6463 obtained from glyceride producing microorganisms, e.g. single cell oil
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/649 Biodiesel, i.e. fatty acid alkyl esters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

Provided are methods for preparing chemically modified lipids. The lipids are obtained from heterotrophically cultured microalgae and are subjected to a transesterification or interesterification reaction. The microalgae include those from the genus Parachlorella, Prototheca, Chlorella, or strains having at least 85% nucleotide sequence identity in 23S rRNA sequences to a Parachlorella, Prototheca, or Chlorella strain that are cultured in a bioreactor substantially in the absence of light.

Claims

1. A method of making a chemically modified lipid, comprising:

(a) providing a microalgal lipid comprising no more than 500 ppm color-generating impurities, wherein the lipid is obtained from microalgae cultured under heterotrophic growth conditions in a bioreactor substantially in the absence of light; and

(b) subjecting the microalgal lipid to a transesterification or interesterification reaction to produce the modified lipid,

wherein the microalgae are selected from strains Parachlorella, Prototheca, Chlorella and strains having at least 85% nucleotide sequence identity in 23S rRNA sequences to a Parachlorella, Prototheca, or Chlorella strain.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the microalgal lipid is obtained from microalgae cultured on sucrose.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the microalgal lipid is obtained from microalgae cultured on sorghum, sugar cane, sugar beet, or molasses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the microalgal lipid is obtained from microalgae cultured on glucose.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein at least 10% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C14 or a lipid of shorter chain length.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein at least 20% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C14 or a lipid of shorter chain length.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein at least 50% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C16 or a lipid of longer chain lengths.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein at least 20% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C18.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein at least 30% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C18.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein at least 40% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C18.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein at least 50% of the microalgal or modified lipid is C18.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the modified lipid is further blended with at least one oil selected from soy, rapeseed, canola, palm, palm kernel, coconut, corn, waste vegetable, Chinese tallow, olive, sunflower, cotton seed, chicken fat, beef tallow, porcine tallow, microalgae, macroalgae, Cuphea, flax, peanut, choice white grease, lard, Camelina sativa, mustard seed, cashew nut, oats, lupine, kenaf, calendula, hemp, coffee, linseed (flax), hazelnut, euphorbia, pumpkin seed, coriander, camellia, sesame, safflower, rice, tung oil tree, cocoa, copra, opium poppy, castor beans, pecan, jojoba, jatropha, macadamia, Brazil nuts, avocado, and a fossil oil or a distillate fraction thereof.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the modified lipid is further blended with one or more additives selected from the group consisting of essential oils, fragrance oils, flavor oils, botanicals, extracts, CO₂ extracts, clays, colorants, titanium dioxide, micas, tinting herbs, glitters, exfoliants, fruit seeds, fibers, grain powders, nut meals, seed meals, oil beads, wax beads, herbs, hydrosols, vitamins, milk powders, preservatives, antioxidants, tocopherols, salts, sugars, vegetable oils, waxes, glycerin, sea vegetables, nutritive oils, moisturizing oils, vegetable butters, propylene glycol, parabens, honey, bees wax, aloe, polysorbate, cornstarch, cocoa powder, coral powder, humectants, gums, emulsifying agents, and thickeners.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the microalgae are Chlorella.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the microalgae are Parachlorella.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the microalgae are incapable of performing photosynthesis.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the microalgae are Prototheca.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the microalgae are selected from the group consisting of Prototheca wickerhamii, Prototheca stagnora, Prototheca portoricensis, Prototheca moriformis, and Prototheca zopfii.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the microalgae are Prototheca moriformis.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the reaction is transesterification.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the transesterification is direct transesterification of biomass containing the microalgal lipid.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the transesterification is lipase-mediated transesterification.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the chemically modified lipid is a methyl, ethyl, or isopropyl ester.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the reaction is interesterification.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the interesterification is directed interesterification.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating the chemically modified lipid in a lubricant.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the lubricant is an engine lubricant.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating the chemically modified lipid in a food product.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the food product is a nondigestible fat substitute, a peanut butter, a margarine, an edible spray oil, a low calorie nut product, a reduced calorie product, a structural fat, an edible oil mixture, or a spread.