Method and Apparatus for Continuous Production of Sophorolipids

1 . An apparatus for production of sophorolipids (SLP), the apparatus comprising:

a fermentation vessel;

a collector vessel connected directly to the fermentation vessel;

a means for collecting SLP from the collector vessel; and

a pump for pumping culture from the collector vessel to the fermentation vessel after SLP has been collected from the collector vessel.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fermentation vessel comprises an impeller.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collector vessel comprises an impeller.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fermentation vessel comprises a jacket.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collector vessel comprises a jacket.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for collecting SLP from the collector vessel is a drain portion at a lower section of the collector vessel, such that gravity can be used to collect precipitated SLP from the lower section of the collector vessel when the drain portion is opened.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for collecting SLP from the collector vessel is a peristaltic pump configured to pump precipitated SLP from a lower section of the collector vessel.

9 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a carbon source vessel connected directly to at least one of the fermentation vessel and the collector vessel, the carbon source vessel containing a sugar source and a fatty acid source.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

a first carbon source vessel connected directly to at least one of the fermentation vessel and the collector vessel, the first carbon source vessel containing a sugar source; and

a second carbon source vessel connected directly to at least one of the fermentation vessel and the collector vessel, the second carbon source vessel containing a fatty acid source.

14 - 19 . (canceled)

20 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collector vessel is connected directly to the fermentation vessel via at least one pipe.

21 . (canceled)

22 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises wheels and handles for maneuvering the apparatus by hand.

23 . A method for production of sophorolipids (SLP), wherein said method comprises:

adding a culture medium and a microorganism to the fermentation vessel of the apparatus of claim 1 ;

allowing fermentation to proceed for a period of time to allow for SLP production; and

collecting precipitated SLP from the collector vessel.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the microorganism is a yeast Starmerella bombicola.

25 - 29 . (canceled)

30 . The method of claim 23 , wherein, after each collection of precipitated SLP from the collector vessel, the culture from the collector vessel is pumped back to the fermentation vessel using the pump.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein, before the culture from the collector vessel is pumped back to the fermentation vessel, a sugar source and a fatty acid source are added to the collector vessel.

32 - 35 . (canceled)

36 . The method of claim 23 , wherein, at the time of the each collection of SLP from the collector vessel, approximately one third (by volume) of the culture in the collector vessel is SLP.

37 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the apparatus is sterilized prior to cultivating the microorganism and wherein the sterilization comprises:

washing internal surfaces of the fermentation vessel and the collector vessel with a disinfectant:

fogging the inside of thefermentation vessel and the collector vessel with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution; and

steaming the inside of the fermentation vessel and the collector vessel with water at a temperature of 105 ° C. to 110 ° C.

38 - 46 . (canceled)