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US 6,750,048 B2Granted
Solventless extraction process
AssigneeMartek Biosciences Corporation
InventorsCraig M. Ruecker, Swithin Patrick Adu-peasah, Brian S. Engelhardt, George T. Veeder, III
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method for extracting lipids from microorganisms without using organic solvent as an extraction solvent. In particular, the present invention provides a method for extracting lipids from microorganisms by lysing cells and removing water soluble compound and/or materials by washing the lysed cell mixtures with aqueous washing solutions until a substantially non-emulsified lipid is obtained.
Claims29
A process for obtaining lipid from microorganisms comprising:
- a) lysing cells of the microorganisms to produce a lysed cell mixture;
- b) treating said lysed cell mixture using an extraction process conducted in a medium that comprises less than about 5% of an organic solvent, while avoiding organic solvent extraction to obtain said lipid, wherein said process produces a phase separated mixture comprising a heavy layer and a light layer, wherein said heavy layer comprises an aqueous phase and said light layer comprises lipid, and wherein said step of treating comprises treating said lipid to obtain non-emulsified lipid in said light layer;
- c) separating said heavy layer from said light layer;
- and
- d) obtaining said lipid from said light layer.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.