IP Library Granted Patent US 12679859
Granted Patent B2
US 12679859 · App. 18/040,309 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Sophorolipid-containing composition having excellent handleability

Inventors: Takuya Matsusako (Kashiwara, JP); Michiaki Araki (Kashiwara, JP); Yoshihiko Hirata (Kashiwara, JP)
Assignee: SARAYA CO., LTD.
C07H15/04C12P7/64C12P19/44
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12679859
App. No.
18/040,309
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a sophorolipid (SL)-containing composition with excellent handleability and a method for producing the sophorolipid-containing composition. The SL-containing composition according to the present invention includes the following characteristics: (A) the content of lactonic SL being 45 to 81 mass % of the total amount of the SL taken as 100 mass %, and (B) the content of oleic acid-diacetyl lactonic SL being 95 mass % or lower of the total amount of the lactonic SL taken as 100 mass %.

Claims (40)

1 . A method for producing a sophorolipid-containing composition comprising the following characteristics (A) to (C):

(A) the content of lactonic sophorolipid being 45 to 81 mass % of the total amount of the sophorolipid taken as 100 mass %,

(B) the content of oleic acid-diacetyl lactonic sophorolipid being 95 mass % or lower of the total amount of the lactonic sophorolipid taken as 100 mass %, and

(C) the content of a hexane extract being 6 mass % or lower on a dry-weight basis;

the method comprising culturing a sophorolipid-producing yeast in a medium containing a hydrophobic substrate and a hydrophilic substrate,

wherein

the hydrophobic substrate is a fatty acid and does not contain a vegetable oil,

a culture product at an early stage of culture has a pH of 4 to 5,

the pH of the culture product is not controlled during a culture period, and

conditions for aerated agitation culture during the culture period are set such that the amount of oxygen supplied to the culture product in terms of apparent oxygen mass transfer coefficient (k L a) is 145 l/hr or higher.

2 . A method for producing a sophorolipid-containing composition comprising the following characteristics (A) to (C):

(A) the content of lactonic sophorolipid being 45 to 81 mass % of the total amount of the sophorolipid taken as 100 mass %,

(B) the content of oleic acid-diacetyl lactonic sophorolipid being 95 mass % or lower of the total amount of the lactonic sophorolipid taken as 100 mass %, and

(C) the content of a hexane extract being 6 mass % or lower on a dry-weight basis;

the method comprising culturing a sophorolipid-producing yeast in a medium containing a hydrophobic substrate and a hydrophilic substrate,

wherein

the hydrophobic substrate is a vegetable oil with a melting point of 30° C. or lower,

the pH of a culture product during a culture period is adjusted to 4.5 to 5, and

conditions for aerated agitation culture during the culture period are set such that the amount of oxygen supplied to the culture product in terms of apparent oxygen mass transfer coefficient (k L a) is 200 l/hr or higher.

3 . A method for producing a sophorolipid-containing composition comprising the following characteristics (A) to (C):

(A) the content of lactonic sophorolipid being 45 to 81 mass % of the total amount of the sophorolipid taken as 100 mass %,

(B) the content of oleic acid-diacetyl lactonic sophorolipid being 95 mass % or lower of the total amount of the lactonic sophorolipid taken as 100 mass %, and

(C) the content of a hexane extract being 6 mass % or lower on a dry-weight basis;

the method comprising culturing a sophorolipid-producing yeast in a medium containing a hydrophobic substrate and a hydrophilic substrate,

wherein

the hydrophobic substrate is a vegetable oil with a melting point of 30° C. or lower,

a culture product at an early stage of culture has a pH of 4 to 5,

the pH of the culture product is not controlled during a culture period, and

conditions for aerated agitation culture during the culture period are set such that the amount of oxygen supplied to the culture product in terms of apparent oxygen mass transfer coefficient (kLa) is 145 l/hr or lower.

4 . A method for producing a sophorolipid-containing composition comprising the following characteristics (A) to (C):

(A) the content of lactonic sophorolipid being 45 to 81 mass % of the total amount of the sophorolipid taken as 100 mass %,

(B) the content of oleic acid-diacetyl lactonic sophorolipid being 95 mass % or lower of the total amount of the lactonic sophorolipid taken as 100 mass %, and

(C) the content of a hexane extract being 6 mass % or lower on a dry-weight basis;

the method comprising culturing a sophorolipid-producing yeast in a medium containing a hydrophobic substrate and a hydrophilic substrate,

wherein

the hydrophobic substrate contains a vegetable oil with a melting point of 30° C. or lower and a fatty acid,

the proportion of a free fatty acid is 20 mass % or higher of the total amount of the vegetable oil with a melting point of 30° C. or lower and the fatty acid taken as 100 mass % contained in the medium,

a culture product at an early stage of culture has a pH of 4 to 5,

the pH of the culture product is not controlled during a culture period, and

conditions for aerated agitation culture during the culture period are set such that the amount of oxygen supplied to the culture product in terms of apparent oxygen mass transfer coefficient (k L a) is 145 l/hr or higher.