Sterol extraction with polar solvent to give low sterol, high triglyceride, microbial oil
AssigneeGist-Brocades N.V.
InventorsHendrik Louis Bijl, Johannes Hendrik Wolf, Albert Schaap
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a process of treating an oil, the process comprising contacting the oil with a polar solvent to extract at least one compound that is soluble in the solvent, and then separating the solvent containing the compound from the so treated oil. The oil is microbially derived, and extracted either from a fermentation broth or a filtrate thereof using hexane. The compound to be extracted is usually a sterol or a diglyceride. The solvent is ethanol having up to 5% water. The oil can contain a polyunsaturated fatty acid such as C18, C20 or C22 .omega.-3 or .omega.-6 fatty acid, such as arachidonic acid.
Claims42
A process of treating an oil derived from a microorganism, the process comprising:
- (a) contacting the oil with a polar solvent to extract at least one sterol that is soluble in the solvent;
- and
- (b) separating at least some of the solvent containing the sterol from the oil, wherein the oil has a sterol content of less than 1.5%.
A process for preparing an oil comprising at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), the process comprising:
- (a) treating an oil derived from a microorganism and comprising at least one PUFA and at least one sterol with a polar solvent to extract at least some of the PUFA and at least some of the sterol, both the PUFA and sterol being at least partially soluble in the solvent;
- and
- (b) separating the solvent from the oil, and evaporating or otherwise removing some of the solvent,
- to give a (residual) oil having a sterol content of at least 10%.
An oil, comprising at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that has been produced by a microorganism, having a sterol content of no more than 1.5%.
An oil comprising at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) produced by a microorganism, having a sterol content of at least 10%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.