Apparatus for making bio-organic compounds
View Patent ↗A system and method for producing bio-organic compounds may include a vessel, a first phase comprising an aqueous medium including host cells capable of producing a bio-organic compound, where the bio-organic compound comprises a second phase in contact with the aqueous medium.
1. A method for producing a C 10 , C 15 , C 20 or C 20+ isoprenoid compound, comprising:
a) preparing a first phase, comprising:
i) an aqueous medium comprising a carbon source; and
ii) a plurality of host cells capable of making at least one C 10 , C 15 , C 20 or C 20+ isoprenoid compound from said carbon source;
b) culturing said plurality of host cells to produce the at least one C 10 , C 15 , C 20 or C 20+ isoprenoid compound;
c) spontaneously forming a liquid organic second phase in a vessel having a capacity of at least 100 liters, said second phase comprising at least 90% of said at least one isoprenoid compound, wherein the second phase is in contact with the first phase;
d) separating at least a portion of said second phase from said first phase, forming a separated second phase; and
e) isolating said at least one isoprenoid compound from said separated second phase.
2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one isoprenoid compound is a C 10 isoprenoid compound.
3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the at least one isoprenoid compound is a C 15 isoprenoid compound.
4. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one isoprenoid compound is a C 20 isoprenoid compound.
5. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one isoprenoid compound is a C 20+ compound.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isolation step comprises adsorption.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isolation step comprises distillation.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isolation step comprises gas-liquid extraction.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isolation step comprises liquid-liquid extraction.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isolation step comprises ultrafiltration.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second phase consists essentially of the C 10 , C 15 , C 20 or C 20+ isoprenoid compound.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said culturing of said plurality of host cells is continuous.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the organic second phase comprises substantially all of said at least one C 10 , C 15 , C 20 or C 20+ isoprenoid compound.