Use of marine algae for producing polymers
In certain aspects, the disclosure provides methods for producing polymers from alkenone-producing algae, such as algae species of the Isochrysis family.
1. A method of producing alkenone derivatives from an algal extract, the method comprising:
(a) culturing a large surface growth area of alkenone-producing algae under a growth condition sufficient to produce alkenones within the algae;
(b) drying the algae and extracting lipids and alkenones from the algae to produce an alkenone-containing extract;
(c) chemically modifying the alkenones in the alkenone-containing extract of step (b) to produce alkenone derivatives, wherein the alkenone derivatives comprise hydrocarbons, polymers, or combinations thereof; and
(d) recovering the alkenone derivatives from the extract after step (c).
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkenone-producing algae is a species of the Isochrysis family.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the alkenone-producing algae is selected from: Isochrysis galbana, Isochrysis sp. T-Iso, and Isochrysis sp. C-Iso.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkenones comprise a number of carbons ranging from 35 to 40.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemically modifying step (c) comprises pyrolyzing, or catalytic hydroprocessing of the alkenones.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkenone derivatives of step (c) are acrylic acids, acrylic esters, alkenes, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, diacids, diamines, diols, or lactic acid.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkenone derivatives of step (c) are hydrocarbons.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the alkenones are converted into hydrocarbons by catalytic hydroprocessing.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the growth condition includes a stationary growth phase.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the growth condition includes sufficient light.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the growth condition includes nutrient limitation.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkenone derivatives are recovered from the extract at step (d) using an enzyme, a structured enzyme array or system, a viral agent, a solvent, supercritical fluid extraction or a combination thereof.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the alkenone derivatives are recovered from the extract using an enzyme, a structured enzyme array or system or a combination thereof.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the alkenone derivatives are recovered from the extract using a hexane or butane solvent.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of polymerizing the alkenone derivatives.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkenone-producing algae are grown in one or more of a reservoir structure, pond, trough, tube, raceway pond, or bioreactor.