Algal lipid production
AssigneePhycal, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Keith Swanson, Bradley Lynn Postler, Richard T. Sayre
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Abstract
Methods for increasing the levels of lipids in oleaginous algae are described. Lipid levels in algae can be increased by stress, such as nutrient stress, after which the lipid can be harvested from the algae using a non-destructive extraction process. The stress may be provided in a periodic or “pulsed” fashion. Lipid levels in oleaginous algae can also be increased using simulated stress by treating the algae with a chemical inhibitor or by using recombinant technology to insert a sequence expressing a protein such as a nitrate reductase inhibitor that is expressed when a stressed state is desired. A method for maintaining the temperature and water levels of algae ponds using buoyant spheres is also described.
Claims23
A method for increasing lipid production by oleaginous algae in an algae culture by inhibiting nutrient assimilation under nutrient replete conditions.
A method for extracting lipid from oleaginous algae, comprising the cycle of subjecting oleaginous algae of an algae culture to stress to increase the lipid content of the oleaginous algae;
- mixing at least a portion of the algae culture with an lipid-extracting solvent to obtain a solvent-algae mixture;
- separating the solvent-algae mixture to obtain a solvent-lipid fraction and an extracted algae fraction;
- and returning the extracted algae fraction to the culture of oleaginous algae, and further wherein the extracted algae fraction and the culture of oleaginous algae are mixed and allowed to grow under non-stressed conditions.
A method for extracting lipid from oleaginous algae, comprising the cycle of subjecting oleaginous algae of an algae culture to stress to increase the lipid content of the oleaginous algae;
- removing at least a portion of the oleaginous algae of the algae culture;
- extracting a portion of the lipids from the oleaginous algae;
- and
- growing the oleaginous algae of the algae culture under non-stressed conditions;
- wherein the cycle is repeated a plurality of time.
A system for maintaining outdoor algal culture, comprising:
- an open artificial algae pond;
- an algae culture within the open artificial algae pond;
- and
- a plurality of buoyant spheres provided in an amount sufficient to substantially decrease the exposed surface area of the open artificial algae pond.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.