Process for the preparation of a granular microbial biomass and isolation of a compound thereform
OwnerHendrik Louis Bijl, Albert Schaapinventors
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Abstract
A process for the isolation of desired compound(s) from a microbial biomass is disclosed, wherein the microbial biomass (which, if necessary, is pretreated to give a dry matter content of from 25 to 80%) is granulated (e.g. by extrusion) and then dried to a dry matter content of at least 80%. The granulation of the biomass to granules significantly eases subsequent drying of the biomass (which can be stored as dried granules) and gives higher yields on extraction of the compound(s).
Claims36
A process for the isolation of one or more compound(s) from a microbial biomass which comprises a microorganism that has produced such a compound, the process comprising:
- a) providing, or obtaining a biomass with a dry matter content of from 25 to 80%;
- b) granulating the biomass into a granular particles having an average dry matter content of from 25 to 80%;
- c) drying the granular particles to give dried granules having an average dry matter content of at least 80%;
- and
- d) purifying, extracting or isolating the or each compound from the dried granules resulting from (c).
A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein in (b) the granulation is effected by extrusion of the biomass.
A process according to any preceding claim wherein the biomass in (a) is obtained by solid/liquid separation performed on a fermentation broth.
A process according to any preceding claim wherein in (a) the biomass with a dry matter content of 25 to 80% is obtained by:
- i) the addition of a solid material to the biomass;
- or
- ii) dewatering of the biomass.
A process according to any preceding claim wherein the drying of the granulated biomass in (c) to a dry matter content of at least 80% is performed by fluidized bed or subfluidized bed drying or vacuum drying.
A process according to any preceding claim wherein the biomass comprises, or originates from, a fungus.
A process according to preceding claim wherein the compound is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), optionally contained in a lipid.
A process according to any preceding claim wherein the compound is arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and/or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
A process according to any preceding claim wherein the microorganism is a yeast.
A process according to any preceding claim wherein the microorganism is a bacteria.
A process According to an preceding claim wherein the biomass is obtained from a fermentation broth after acidification (such as to a pH >5).
A microbial extrudate which comprises, or is obtained from, a fungus.
A composition comprising granular particles of biomass, the particles having an average dry matter content of at least 30% but less than 70% and having been obtained by granulating biomass.
A composition which comprises dried granules, the granules being derived from a microbial biomass and dried, and having an average dry matter content of at least 80%.
A composition according to claim 30 or 31 wherein the granular particles or dried granules are formed by extrusion.
A process for the isolation of one or more compound(s) from granules of biomass, the process comprising:
- a) providing dried granules having a dry matter content of at least 80%, the granules having been derived from a microbial biomass comprising microorganisms that have produced such a compound;
- and
- b) extracting or isolating the or each compound from the dried granules by solvent extraction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.