# US 12,760,178 B2 · Enhanced alkyl ester containing oil compositions and methods of making and using the same

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- Number: US 12,760,178 B2
- Document ID: US12760178B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/828,712
- Filed: 2024-09-09
- Published: 2025-01-02
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-24
- Assignees: POET Research, Inc.
- Applicants: Poet Research, Inc.
- Inventors: Alexander T. McCurdy; Matthew D. Reiners; Bradley M. Heggeseth; Bruce G. Pierson; David D. Bushong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760178B2

## CPC

- C08L 91/00: Compositions of oils, fats or waxes; Compositions of derivatives thereof
- C08K 5/101: of monocarboxylic acids
- C08L 95/00: Compositions of bituminous materials, e.g. asphalt, tar, pitch
- A23D 9/013: Other fatty acid esters, e.g. phosphatides
- C08L 2555/34: Recycled or waste materials, e.g. reclaimed bitumen, asphalt, roads or pathways, recycled roof coverings or shingles, recycled aggregate, recycled tires, crumb rubber, glass or cullet, fly or fuel ash, or slag
- C08L 2555/64: Oils, fats or waxes based upon fatty acid esters, e.g. fish oil, olive oil, lard, cocoa butter, bees wax or carnauba wax
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- A23D: EDIBLE OILS OR FATS, e.g. MARGARINES, SHORTENINGS OR COOKING OILS (preservation thereof A23B20/00; production, refinement or preservation of animal or vegetable fats or oils C11B, C11C)

## Abstract

Vegetable oil compositions, as an example, corn oil, having an elevated lower alkyl ester content above about 7% weight percent of the total weight of the oil composition, and uses thereof are provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method to increase the utility of corn oil obtained from fermentation by chemical modification of the corn oil, the method comprising:
providing an aqueous composition including ground corn material and corn fat;
treating the aqueous composition with an enzyme to produce glucose;
fermenting the glucose in the presence of yeast and a composition including an exogenous esterase in an amount and under conditions which produce ethanol and the corn oil; and
wherein the corn oil has an increased ethyl ester content and lower viscosity as compared to a corn oil obtained from a process that does not include exogenous esterase during fermentation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the ethyl ester content is greater than 7% w/w of the total weight of the corn oil.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the ethyl ester content is greater than 10% w/w of the total weight of the corn oil.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the ethyl ester content is greater than 18% w/w of the total weight of the corn oil.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the exogenous esterase is 0.01% w/w to 20% w/w of the weight of corn fat.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the conditions include a pH of 3 to 8.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the conditions include maintaining a glucose concentration in the aqueous composition of less than 2 weight percent after 12 hours of saccharification and fermentation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the exogenous esterase is a lipase.