Methods of recovering oil from microorganisms
First Claim
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1. A method of recovering lipids from a population of lipid-producing microorganisms comprising:
- (a) contacting the population of lipid-producing microorganisms with one or more enzymes under conditions that cause disruption of the microorganisms, wherein the contacting step is performed in the presence of 0.001% to 0.4% enzyme for one to twenty hours at about 55°
C.;
(b) concentrating the disrupted microorganisms with the lipids by (i) producing a heavy layer and a light layer, wherein the light layer comprises substantially all of the disrupted microorganisms and lipids and (ii) removing at least a portion of the heavy layer; and
(c) extracting lipids from the concentrated disrupted microorganisms and lipids of step (b) at a high temperature in the presence of a salt in the absence of organic solvents, wherein extraction separates the lipids from the microorganisms.
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Abstract
Provided herein are methods of recovering oil from microorganisms. The methods are useful, for example, in obtaining nutritional oils and/or lipid biofuels. The methods of recovering oil described herein include contacting a population of microorganisms with one or more enzymes under conditions that cause disruption of the microorganisms, concentrating the disrupted microorganisms, and extracting lipids from the disrupted microorganisms at high temperature in the presence of a salt and in the absence of solvent.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of recovering lipids from a population of lipid-producing microorganisms comprising:
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(a) contacting the population of lipid-producing microorganisms with one or more enzymes under conditions that cause disruption of the microorganisms, wherein the contacting step is performed in the presence of 0.001% to 0.4% enzyme for one to twenty hours at about 55°
C.;(b) concentrating the disrupted microorganisms with the lipids by (i) producing a heavy layer and a light layer, wherein the light layer comprises substantially all of the disrupted microorganisms and lipids and (ii) removing at least a portion of the heavy layer; and (c) extracting lipids from the concentrated disrupted microorganisms and lipids of step (b) at a high temperature in the presence of a salt in the absence of organic solvents, wherein extraction separates the lipids from the microorganisms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification