Oil degumming methods

• US 9,045,712 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bunge Global Innovation LLC (Bunge Limited), DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Original Assignee: Bunge Global Innovation LLC (Bunge Limited)
• Inventors: Dayton, Christopher L. G., Galhardo, Flavio Da Silva, Barton, Nelson, Hitchman, Tim, Lyon, Jonathan, O'Donoghue, Eileen, Wall, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noakes, Suzanne M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LACOURCIERE, GERARD MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/502,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20130011887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1011 Biomass
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/026 for compression ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 3/003 by enzymes or microorganisms, living or dead
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 3/04 with acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/88 Lyases (4.)
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/18 polyhydric
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6445 Glycerides
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6458 by transesterification, e.g. interesterification, ester interchange, alcoholysis or acidolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/6481 Phosphoglycerides phosphoglycerides having carboxylic acids with less than seven carbon atoms C12P7/62
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 406/01013 Phosphatidylinositol diacylglycerol-lyase (4.6.1.13)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/52 using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/20 using bio-feedstock

Abstract

In alternative embodiments, the invention provides phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) enzymes, nucleic acids encoding them, antibodies that bind specifically to them, and methods for making and using them. Industrial methods and products comprising use of these phospholipases are also provided. In certain embodiments, provided herein are methods for hydration of non hydratable phospholipids (NHPs) within a lipid matrix. The methods enable migration of NHPs to an oil-water interface thereby allowing the NHPs to be reacted and/or removed from the lipids. In certain embodiments, provided is a method for removing NHPs, hydratable phospholipids, and lecithins from vegetable oils to produce a degummed oil or fat product that can be used for food production and/or non-food applications. In certain embodiments, provided herein are methods for hydration of NHPs followed by enzymatic treatment and removal of various phospholipids and lecithins. The methods provided herein can be practiced on either crude or water-degummed oils.

Claims

1. A method for degumming a crude oil comprising:

i-a) mixing an aqueous acid with the crude oil to obtain an acidic mixture having pH of less than about 4;

i-b) mixing a base with the acidic mixture to obtain a reacted mixture having pH of about 6-9, wherein the mixing in steps i-a) and/or i-b) creates an emulsion that comprises at least about 60% of an aqueous phase by volume in droplet size between about 15 μ

m to about 45 μ

m in size; and

i-c) mixing a phospholipase enzyme with the emulsion in step (i-b), wherein the phospholipase enzyme comprises SEQ ID NO;

8.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the emulsion comprises at least about 90% of the aqueous phase by volume in droplet size of about 15-40 μ

m in size.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, acetic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, and a mixture thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pH of the acidic mixture in step i-a) is about 1 to about 4.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the enzyme is a polypeptide having SEQ ID NO:

8.

5. A method for degumming a crude oil comprising:

i-a) mixing an aqueous acid with the crude oil to obtain an acidic mixture having pH of less than about 4;

i-b) mixing a base with the acidic mixture to obtain a reacted mixture having pH of about 6-9, wherein the mixing in steps i-a) and/or i-b) creates an emulsion that comprises an aqueous phase in average droplet size between about 15-35 μ

m; and

i-c) mixing a phospholipase enzyme with the emulsion in step (i-b), wherein the phospholipase enzyme comprises SEQ ID NO;

8.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the enzyme is a polypeptide having SEQ ID NO:

8.