Use of marine algae for co-producing alkenones, alkenone derivatives, and co-products
A method comprising a series of selective extraction techniques for the parallel production of biodiesel and isolation of several valuable co-products including an alkenone hydrocarbon mixture of the kerosene/jet fuel range (primarily C10-, C12-, and C17-hydrocarbons) and fucoxanthin, a high-valued carotenoid, from the marine alkenone-producing microalgae Isochrysis.
1. A lipid-containing mixture comprising:
at least one fatty acid methyl ester in an amount of less than 50% (w/v);
at least one alkenone in an amount of at least 10% (w/v); and
at least one neutral lipid in an amount from 20% to 40% (w/v).
2. The mixture of claim 1 , comprising at least one alkenone in an amount of at least 20% (w/v).
3. The mixture of claim 1 , further comprising at least one carotenoid.
4. The mixture of claim 3 wherein one of said at least one carotenoid is fucoxanthin.
5. The mixture of claim 4 , wherein the fucoxanthin is a cis isomer of fucoxanthin or a trans isomer of fucoxanthin.
6. The mixture of claim 1 , wherein the at least one alkenone comprises a polyunsaturated long-chain alkenone having from 30 to 42 carbon atoms.
7. The mixture of claim 6 , wherein the at least one alkenone comprises a C37:3, C37:2, C38:2, C38:3, C39:2, C39:2 alkenone, or a mixture thereof.
8. The mixture of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fatty acid methyl ester is methyl linoleate.