Use of marine algae for co-producing alkenones, alkenone derivatives, and co-products
Inventors
Reddy, Christopher M. • O'Neil, Gregory W. • Lindell, Scott R.
Assignees
Marine Biological Laboratory • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution • Western Washington University
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Publication Number
US-11118199-B2
Publication Date
2021-09-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method comprising a series of selective extraction techniques for the parallel production of biodiesel and isolation of several valuable co-products including an alkenone hydrocarbon mixture of the kerosene/jet fuel range (primarily C10-, C12-, and C17-hydrocarbons) and fucoxanthin, a high-valued carotenoid, from the marine alkenone-producing microalgae Isochrysis.
Core Innovation
The disclosed approach concerns parallel biorefinery processing of Isochrysis marine microalgae to co-produce biodiesel, described as fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), together with an alkenone hydrocarbon mixture in the kerosene/jet-fuel boiling range. The alkenone hydrocarbon mixture includes cis/trans isomers with carbon counts noted as C10, C12, and C17, produced via alkenone derivatization. The document further identifies valuable co-products including fucoxanthin.
The document addresses waste-stream valorization by enabling recovery of both biodiesel components and alkenone-derived kerosene/jet-fuel range hydrocarbons from Isochrysis-derived lipid fractions. It describes selective recovery concepts for alkenone-rich fractions and fucoxanthin-enriched biomass oils using solvent extraction and partitioning. It also describes alkenone purification from neutral lipids and downstream product characterization.
Product characterization is reported using analytical methods including GC-FID, GC×GC-FID, GC×GC-TOF, GC-MS, 1H NMR, and HPLC. Examples reference Isochrysis strains including T-Iso and C-Iso. Reported yields are provided for alkenone isolation and for fucoxanthin extraction content.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim recites a lipid-containing mixture defined by three compositional requirements: less than 50% (w/v) fatty acid methyl esters, at least 10% (w/v) alkenones, and 20% to 40% (w/v) neutral lipids. Dependent claims refine these requirements by imposing higher alkenone content, narrowing alkenone molecular features by carbon count and specific C-number alkenone types, and optionally specifying carotenoids (fucoxanthin) and a specific fatty acid methyl ester (methyl linoleate).
Lipid-containing mixture with FAME/alkenone/neutral lipid compositional ranges
A lipid-containing mixture comprising at least one fatty acid methyl ester in an amount of less than 50% (w/v), at least one alkenone in an amount of at least 10% (w/v), and at least one neutral lipid in an amount from 20% to 40% (w/v).
High alkenone content lipid-containing mixture
The lipid-containing mixture further comprises at least one alkenone in an amount of at least 20% (w/v).
Polyunsaturated long-chain alkenone carbon-count limited mixture
The mixture comprises an alkenone that is a polyunsaturated long-chain alkenone having between 30 and 42 carbon atoms.
Specific C37/C38/C39 alkenone types (or mixtures)
The mixture comprises at least one alkenone selected from specified alkenone types associated with C37, C38, and C39, including C37:3 alkenone, C37:2 alkenone, C38:2 alkenone, C38:3 alkenone, and C39:2 alkenone, or mixtures thereof.
Fucoxanthin-containing carotenoid addition to the mixture
The mixture includes fucoxanthin as one of the at least one carotenoid.
Methyl linoleate as the fatty acid methyl ester
The mixture includes at least one fatty acid methyl ester that is methyl linoleate.
Across the claim set, the inventive scope is centered on a lipid-containing mixture defined by specific quantitative compositional ranges for FAMEs, alkenones, and neutral lipids, with additional refinement specifying higher alkenone content, constrained polyunsaturated long-chain alkenone carbon counts, specific C37/C38/C39 alkenone types, optional fucoxanthin, and methyl linoleate as a representative FAME.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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