Granted Patent B2

US 12,460,238 · App. 17/769,951 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Inventors: Sean Farmer (Ft. Lauderdale, FL); Ken Alibek (Solon, OH); Amir Mahmoudkhani (Solon, OH); Janaina Izabel Da Silva De Aguiar (Solon, OH)

Assignee: Locus Solutions IPCo, LLC

C12P19/44

Abstract

Claims (14)

1 . A method for producing a sophorolipid composition with an HLB of 9 or greater, the method comprising:

obtaining a yeast fermentation product comprising a mixture of hydrophilic SLP molecules comprising non-acetylated linear SLP, and hydrophobic SLP molecules comprising lactonic SLP and mono-and di-acetylated linear SLP, said mixture being produced by cultivating a SLP-producing microorganism;

functionalizing the hydrophobic SLP molecules by converting them into hydrophilic molecules to produce a hydrophilic SLP fraction comprising only hydrophilic SLP molecules, wherein the hydrophobic SLP molecules are converted to hydrophilic SLP molecules by mixing the hydrophobic SLP molecules with a base;

producing a purified hydrophobic SLP fraction; and

mixing the hydrophilic SLP fraction with the purified hydrophobic SLP fraction at a ratio of hydrophilic SLP molecules to purified hydrophobic SLP molecules between 60:40 to 75:25.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein producing the purified hydrophobic SLP fraction comprises allowing a second yeast fermentation product to sit undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours, wherein a layer substantially comprising hydrophobic SLP molecules settles to the bottom of the second yeast fermentation product,

wherein the settled layer is harvested to obtain a crude hydrophobic SLP fraction comprising residual yeast cells, glucose, fatty acids, and/or fermentation broth, in addition to the hydrophobic SLP molecules, and

the crude hydrophobic SLP fraction is treated to remove the residual yeast cells, glucose, fatty acids, and/or fermentation broth, thereby producing the purified hydrophobic SLP fraction.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the SLP-producing microorganism is Starmerella bombicola.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein converting the hydrophobic SLP molecules into hydrophilic SLP molecules modifies a functional property of the sophorolipid composition selected from HLB, solubility, foaming, detergency, emulsification, demulsification, and wettability alteration.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the functional property is HLB.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the functional property is water solubility, and wherein the water solubility is increased.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the base facilitates alkali-mediated l actone bond breakage of lactonic SLP molecules and/or alkali-mediated deacetylation of lactonic and/or linear SLP molecules.

8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the water solubility of the hydrophobic SLP fraction is increased by mixing the fraction with an organic amine selected from ethanolamine, triethanolamine, propylamine, and isopropylamine.

Assignments (8)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (78)