Methods of using Nannochloropsis Algal strains to produce hydrocarbons and fatty acids
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents for and on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorsQiang HU, Milton SOMMERFELD, Shan QIN
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and compositions for production of algal-based medium chain fatty acids and hydrocarbons. More specifically, the invention relates to a Nannochloropsis algal strain and mutants that produces high amounts of C16 fatty acids and hydrocarbons. The present invention provides methods and compositions for production of algal-based medium chain fatty acids and hydrocarbons. More specifically, the invention relates to a Nannochloropsis algal strain and mutants that produces high amounts of C16 fatty acids and hydrocarbons.
Claims7
A method for producing algal medium chain length fatty acids or hydrocarbons, comprising:
- (a) culturing a first algal culture selected from the group consisting of Nannochloropsis strain LARB-AZ 0202.0 deposited at ATCC Deposit Number PTA-11048 or a mutant thereof deposited at ATCC Deposit Number PTA 11049 or ATCC Deposit Number PTA-11050, or a combination of two or more said Nannochloropsis strains (LARB-AZ 0202.2;
- LARB-AZ 0202.3) wherein said first algal strain produces at least a first medium chain length fatty acid subset wherein at least 60% of the fatty acids in said subset are of a chain length of C16, wherein the culturing is conducted under conditions suitable to promote production of the first medium chain fatty acid subset;
- and
- (b) extracting oil from the first algal strain to produce a medium chain length combination;
- wherein the medium chain length combination comprises carbon chain length C10, C12, C14 and C16 fatty acids or hydrocarbons, wherein said oil is enriched for C16 fatty acids such that greater than 60% of the fatty acids in said oil are C16 fatty acids;
- said method optionally further comprising converting oil extracted from the first algal strain into a hydrocarbon fraction and refining the hydrocarbon fraction to produce one or more fractions enriched in medium chain length hydrocarbons, wherein the one or more fractions comprises one or more fractions enriched in carbon chain length C10, C12, C14 and C16 hydrocarbons.
A method for producing algal medium chain length fatty acids, comprising:
- (a) culturing Nannochloropsis strain LARB-AZ 0202.0 deposited under ATCC Deposit Number PTA-11048 or a mutant thereof or a combination of said Nannochloropsis strain LARB-AZ 0202.0 and one or more mutants thereof under conditions suitable to promote production of medium chain length fatty acids enriched in C16 fatty acids;
- and
- (b) extracting oil from the cultured Nannochloropsis strain LARB-AZ 0202.0 or the one or more mutants thereof wherein the extracted oil comprises C14 and C16 chain length fatty acids.
A method for Also described herein are methods of producing algal medium chain length fatty acids or hydrocarbons, comprising
- (a) culturing Nannochloropsis strain LARB-AZ 0202.0 deposited under ATCC Deposit Number PTA-11048 or a mutant thereof or a combination of said Nannochloropsis strain LARB-AZ 0202.0 and one or more mutants thereof under conditions suitable to promote production of medium chain length fatty acids enriched for C16 fatty acids;
- (b) culturing one or more further algal strains that can produce and accumulate large quantities of C14 chain length fatty acids, wherein the culturing is conducted under conditions suitable to promote production of the C14 chain length fatty acids;
- and
- (c) culturing one or more further algal strains that can produce and accumulate large quantities of C10 and/or C12 chain length fatty acids, wherein the culturing is conducted under conditions suitable to promote production of the C10 and/or C12 chain length fatty acids;
- and
- (d) extracting oil from the cultured Nannochloropsis strain LARB-AZ 0202.0 or a mutant thereof and the one or more further algal strains to produce a medium chain length combination;
- wherein the medium chain length combination comprises carbon chain length C14 and one or more of C10 and C12 fatty acids or hydrocarbons;
- said method optionally further comprising converting the medium chain length combination into a hydrocarbon fraction and further comprising refining the hydrocarbon fraction to produce one or more fractions enriched in medium chain length hydrocarbons, wherein the one or more fractions comprises one or more fractions enriched in carbon chain length C16, C10, C12, and C14 hydrocarbons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.