Fermentation process for the production of lipids
AssigneesLanzatech New Zealand Limited, DBT-IOC Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy Research
InventorsSean Dennis Simpson, Sebastian Michal Bernasek, Deepak K Tuli
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Abstract
The invention provides methods and systems for the production of lipid products from a gaseous substrate using a two stage fermentation process. The method comprises providing a gaseous substrate comprising CO, CO2 or H2 or mixtures thereof, to a first bioreactor containing a culture or one or more microorganisms, and fermenting the substrate to produce acetate. The acetate from the first bioreactor is then provided to a second bioreactor, where it is used as a substrate for fermentation to lipids by one or more microalgae.
Claims18
A method for producing at least one lipid product from a gaseous substrate, the method comprising:
- i. receiving a gaseous substrate comprising CO2 and H2 in a first bioreactor containing a culture of at least one microorganism in a liquid nutrient medium, and fermenting the gaseous substrate under anaerobic conditions to produce acetate;
- ii. passing at least a portion of the acetate to a second bioreactor containing a culture of at least one microalgae in a liquid nutrient medium, and fermenting the acetate under aerobic conditions to produce at least one lipid product, wherein the microalgae is selected from the group consisting of Thraustochytrium, Japonochytrium, Aplanochytrium, Elina, and Labyrinthula;
- iii obtaining a fermentation broth from the second bioreactor;
- and
- iv. passing at least a portion of the fermentation broth from the second bioreactor to a separator to produce a product stream comprising at least one lipid and biomass and an acetate depleted permeate stream;
- v. passing the permeate stream to an oxygen removal unit to remove oxygen and then recycling at least a portion of the resulting oxygen depleted stream to the first bioreactor.
A method for producing at least one lipid product from a gaseous substrate, the method comprising:
- i. receiving a gaseous substrate comprising CO in a first bioreactor containing a culture of at least one microorganism in a liquid nutrient medium, and fermenting the gaseous substrate under anaerobic conditions to produce acetate;
- ii. passing at least a portion of the acetate to a second bioreactor containing a culture of at least one microalgae in a liquid nutrient medium, and fermenting the acetate under aerobic conditions to produce at least one lipid product, wherein the microalgae is selected from the group consisting of Thraustochytrium, Japonochytrium, Aplanochytrium, Elina, and Labyrinthula;
- iii obtaining a fermentation broth from the second bioreactor;
- iv. passing at least a portion of the fermentation broth from the second bioreactor to a separator to produce a product stream comprising at least one lipid and biomass and an acetate depleted permeate stream;
- v. passing the permeate stream to an oxygen removal unit to remove oxygen and then recycling at least a portion of the resulting oxygen depleted stream to the first bioreactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.