Chemicals Produced from Oil-Bearing Microbial Biomass
Chemicals prepared from oleaginous microbes and related methods are provided.
1 . A method of making a chemical comprising: (a) providing biomass obtained from a population of lysed oleaginous microbial cells, the oleaginous microbial cells comprising more than 10% lipid by dry cell weight prior to lysis, and (b) subjecting the biomass to a chemical reaction that covalently modifies the biomass.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lysed oleaginous microbial cells have at least 30% lipid by dry cell weight prior to lysis.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lysed oleaginous microbial cells have at least 40% lipid by dry cell weight prior to lysis.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lysed oleaginous microbial cells have at least 50% lipid by dry cell weight prior to lysis.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lysed oleaginous microbial cells have at least 60% lipid by dry cell weight prior to lysis.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomass comprises cell wall or cellular membranes of the lysed oleaginous microbial cells.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the biomass comprises polysaccharides.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the oleaginous microbial cells are lysed mechanically, enzymatically, virally, or by sonication or osmotic shock.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the chemical reaction comprises an esterification, hydroxylation, epoxidation, oxidation, hydrogenation, or cyclopropanation.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical is further blended with one or more additives selected from the group consisting of essential oils, fragrance oils, flavor oils, botanicals, extracts, CO 2 extracts, clays, colorants, titanium dioxide, micas, tinting herbs, glitters, exfoliants, fruit seeds, fibers, grain powders, nut meals, seed meals, oil beads, wax beads, herbs, hydrosols, vitamins, milk powders, preservatives, antioxidants, tocopherols, salts, sugars, vegetable oils, waxes, glycerin, sea vegetables, nutritive oils, moisturizing oils, vegetable butters, propylene glycol, parabens, honey, bees wax, aloe, polysorbate, cornstarch, cocoa powder, coral powder, humectants, gums, emulsifying agents, and thickeners.
11 . The method of claims 1 , wherein the oleaginous microbial cells are selected from the group consisting of bacteria, cyanobacteria, microalgae, yeast, and fungi.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the oleaginous microbial cells are microalgae.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the microalgae are selected from strains Parachlorella, Prototheca, Chlorella and strains having at least 85% nucleotide sequence identity in 23S rRNA sequences to a Parachlorella, Prototheca , or Chlorella strain.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the microalgae are cultured under heterotrophic growth conditions in a bioreactor substantially in the absence of light
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the microalgae are cultured on sorghum, sugar cane, sugar beet, or molasses.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the microalgae are cultured on glucose.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the microalgae are Chlorella.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the microalgae are incapable of performing photosynthesis.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the microalgae are Prototheca wickerhamii, Prototheca stagnora, Prototheca portoricensis, Prototheca moriformis , or Prototheca zopfii.
20 . A chemical prepared by the process of: (a) providing biomass obtained from a population of lysed oleaginous microbial cells, the oleaginous microbial cells comprising more than 10% lipid by dry cell weight prior to lysis, and (b) subjecting the biomass to a chemical reaction that covalently modifies the biomass.