WO2023200463A1 - Processus améliorés de production de compositions contenant des oméga-3 à partir d'algues et d'extractions associées - Google Patents

Processus améliorés de production de compositions contenant des oméga-3 à partir d'algues et d'extractions associées Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023200463A1
WO2023200463A1 PCT/US2022/034537 US2022034537W WO2023200463A1 WO 2023200463 A1 WO2023200463 A1 WO 2023200463A1 US 2022034537 W US2022034537 W US 2022034537W WO 2023200463 A1 WO2023200463 A1 WO 2023200463A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
polar
biomass
lipids
fraction
algal
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PCT/US2022/034537
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English (en)
Inventor
Brian L. Goodall
Dmitry KUKLEV
Glen L. Bostick
Original Assignee
Nooter/Eriksen, Inc.
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Priority claimed from US17/718,009 external-priority patent/US11730782B2/en
Application filed by Nooter/Eriksen, Inc. filed Critical Nooter/Eriksen, Inc.
Publication of WO2023200463A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023200463A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L33/00—Modifying nutritive qualities of foods; Dietetic products; Preparation or treatment thereof
    • A23L33/10—Modifying nutritive qualities of foods; Dietetic products; Preparation or treatment thereof using additives
    • A23L33/115—Fatty acids or derivatives thereof; Fats or oils
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23D—EDIBLE OILS OR FATS, e.g. MARGARINES, SHORTENINGS, COOKING OILS
    • A23D9/00—Other edible oils or fats, e.g. shortenings, cooking oils
    • A23D9/007—Other edible oils or fats, e.g. shortenings, cooking oils characterised by ingredients other than fatty acid triglycerides
    • A23D9/013—Other fatty acid esters, e.g. phosphatides
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11B—PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES
    • C11B1/00—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials
    • C11B1/02—Pretreatment
    • C11B1/04—Pretreatment of vegetable raw material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11B—PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES
    • C11B1/00—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials
    • C11B1/10—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials by extracting
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11B—PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES
    • C11B1/00—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials
    • C11B1/10—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials by extracting
    • C11B1/104—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials by extracting using super critical gases or vapours
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11B—PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES
    • C11B3/00—Refining fats or fatty oils
    • C11B3/001—Refining fats or fatty oils by a combination of two or more of the means hereafter
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11B—PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES
    • C11B3/00—Refining fats or fatty oils
    • C11B3/006—Refining fats or fatty oils by extraction
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11B—PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES
    • C11B3/00—Refining fats or fatty oils
    • C11B3/008—Refining fats or fatty oils by filtration, e.g. including ultra filtration, dialysis
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11B—PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES
    • C11B3/00—Refining fats or fatty oils
    • C11B3/10—Refining fats or fatty oils by adsorption
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L17/00—Food-from-the-sea products; Fish products; Fish meal; Fish-egg substitutes; Preparation or treatment thereof
    • A23L17/60—Edible seaweed

Definitions

  • Omega-3 oils are vital to human health and deficits in them can have serious, negative health impacts. These range from developmental deficiencies in brain and neural networks to our cardiovascular health, and more. Omega-3 oils are in high demand today due to supply limitations in aquaculture, fisheries, and other marine sources, at latest report, being able to supply only approximately 0.8 million tons of Omega-3 fatty acids per year for human consumption. This is well below the current human nutritional demand of 1 .4 million tons required to supply the global population with 500 mg Omega-3 fatty acids daily and will be further exacerbated by population growth. Omega-3 fatty acids deficiencies have been observed worldwide, and particularly affect populations located in North America, central Europe, the Middle East, India, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, with regional and socioeconomic differences seen within these countries.
  • Alpha linoleic acid (ALA), with 18 carbons and 3 double bonds, can be found, e.g., in flax seeds, soybean oil and olives.
  • “Working algae”, i.e., algae grown using sunlight or artificial light using photosynthesis comprise mostly polar lipids, which fall into the categories of glycolipids and phospholipids.
  • these species have hydrophobic tails and a polar (hydrophilic) head - i.e., they are essentially exotic natural detergents.
  • These materials have exceptionally high bioavailability, and thus, readily enter the human bloodstream to deliver the above-mentioned health benefits.
  • Various of these valuable materials have proven not found to be naturally produced in other sources, such sources may be of questionable sustainability, or have proven to be difficult to feasibly access.
  • extracting them from microalgae efficiently and in their pure, natural, bioavailable form has not previously been effectively accomplished in a commercially successful manner, as existing commercial products have been hampered by an unattractive appearance, odor and texture.
  • algae extracts While having a higher bioavailability, algae extracts have traditionally included components which give the extracted oil an overall, very dark, nearly black-ish, appearance, and a highly viscous feel, making them resemble an unattractive tar-like black solid, which remains relatively low in concentrations of Omega-3 fatty acids .
  • the present disclosure describes a solution to the above problems by utilizing separation processes which may include liquid-liquid reactors and/or mechanical cartridges to extract oil extracts from microalgal biomass.
  • the crude extract is then fractionated into clean, well-characterized fractions, e.g., polar lipids, polysaccharides, and carotenoids, with high efficiency and very high recovery.
  • polar lipids e.g., polar lipids, polysaccharides, and carotenoids
  • the disclosed process includes a method for production of a low chlorophyll content oil composition
  • a suitable algal biomass such as an algal paste or dried powder
  • extraction of the algal biomass with a polar solvent such as an alcohol like ethanol to form an extract of algal lipids
  • extraction of the obtained extract with, e.g., an organic solvent such as the hydrocarbons hexane or heptane, to separate the fraction of non-polar lipids, transferring the, e.g., alcohol layer containing pigments and polar lipids to a further stage of processing
  • Polar lipids can then be obtained from the fraction containing them by evaporation, and pigments can also be obtained by evaporation of the fraction
  • the disclosed process includes a method for production of a low chlorophyll content oil composition
  • a method for production of a low chlorophyll content oil composition comprising the steps of obtaining an algal biomass which includes both polar and nonpolar lipid fractions and also has a chlorophyll concentration.
  • the method further includes using polarity characteristics of the polar and non-polar lipid fractions to segregate polar from non-polar components in the algal biomass, including substantially segregating the chlorophyll concentration with the non-polar lipid fraction. Additional steps include bleaching out substantially all the chlorophyll concentration from the non-polar containing fraction; and re-combining the polar and non-polar lipid fractions to produce the low chlorophyll-content LC-PUFA oil composition.
  • the above process embodiments produce an attractive composition for use in both the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical fields, particularly in terms of reduced opacity and viscosity while maintaining a high bioavailability.
  • a method of fractionating and clarifying algal biomass into its clean, precisely characterized components of Liquid Extracted Biomass, i.e., the residual post-extraction biomass (“LEA’), polar lipids, pure neutral lipids, chlorophyll, polysaccharides, carotenoids with high recovery of the total, and reporting a full algal biomass balance, is provided.
  • LSA residual post-extraction biomass
  • the method comprises the steps of obtaining an algal biomass such as a paste or powder; extraction of the algal biomass with a polar solvent such as an alcohol like ethanol to form, e.g., an alcoholic extract of algal lipids; extraction of the obtained, e.g., alcoholic extract with, e.g., an organic solvent such as the hydrocarbons hexane or heptane, to separate the fraction of non-polar lipids, transferring the, e.g., alcohol layer containing pigments and polar lipids to a further stage of processing; adding water to the, e.g., alcohol layer extracted, e.g., with heptane, and then its sequential extraction with, e.g., heptane, to extract the pigment fraction and separating out the polar lipid fraction.
  • a polar solvent such as an alcohol like ethanol
  • an organic solvent such as the hydrocarbons hexane or heptane
  • a method for the extraction of biomass oils, which include, but are not limited, to lipids, chlorophyll, saccharides, carotenoids and Cannabidiols (CBD) from a dry, preferably powdered, biomass.
  • the method includes the steps of obtaining a mechanical cartridge or extraction column with an inner bore and inlet and outlet ends configured to permit solvent flow.
  • the mechanical cartridge is capable of being heated/cooled and pressurized and of containing heated/cooled and pressurized solvent at ranges sufficient to separate the target biomass oil from the dry biomass.
  • the operating conditions permit the operator to melt lipids, thus allowing for their extraction from the dry biomass in which they were contained.
  • the mechanical cartridge itself is filled with dried biomass and the mechanical cartridge can be heated/cooled to a predetermined temperature, typically between -30°C and 150°C.
  • Temperature controlled solvent is pumped through the dry biomass filled mechanical cartridge at a temperature, pressure, retention time and flow rate sufficient to remove the targeted biomass oils.
  • the elevated temperature solvent melts the lipids in the lipids-containing portion of the dried biomass and thereby extracting the lipids in liquid form from portions of the biomass retained in the mechanical cartridge under the same conditions.
  • the disclosure further relates to a bioavailable, LC-PUFA-, Omega-3-, EPA-, polar lipids- and glycolipids/phospholipid-rich composition especially suitable for use in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical compositions, which can be considered as health or medical compositions, and as having other valuable end products.
  • Starting material for this composition may be derived from algae as described herein.
  • a composition is disclosed including a polar lipids fraction of a concentration of total lipids of at least 20% of the total lipids by weight%; wherein the polar lipids fraction comprises at least 40% glycolipids by weight; and wherein the composition comprises no greater than 4% of its weight% as a chlorophyll concentration.
  • composition prepared as described above, with its total lipids having a fraction of at least 20 wt.% polar lipids, and its polar lipids having a fraction of at least 40 wt.% glycolipids, but the composition having less than a 4 wt.% chlorophyll fraction, may further include formulations with additive non-polar lipids and/or nutraceutical oils such as DHA, Esters or salts of EPA or DHA (or mixtures thereof) or other beneficial additives as more fully described below, which also assist in providing for certain beneficial combinations of a more bioavailable, nutrient rich, lighter color, lower viscosity, oil.
  • additive non-polar lipids and/or nutraceutical oils such as DHA, Esters or salts of EPA or DHA (or mixtures thereof) or other beneficial additives as more fully described below, which also assist in providing for certain beneficial combinations of a more bioavailable, nutrient rich, lighter color, lower viscosity, oil.
  • FIG. 1 discloses a schematic diagram of extraction process steps for an exemplary method of preparation of the oil of an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a photographic depiction of an embodiment of a composition of the disclosure made according to the exemplary method as set forth in FIG. 1 , having a desired target LC-PUFA-, polar lipid-, Omega-3-, EPA- and glycolipid-rich and chlorophyll-reduced concentration, with bioavailability, color and viscosity of a desired oil composition, embodiments of which are disclosed herein.
  • FIG. 3 is a photographic depiction of a powder obtained by an embodiment of a process of the disclosure made up substantially of nonlipids components comprising, e.g., polysaccharides contained in the crude ethanolic algal extract made according to an embodiment of the process as described herein.
  • FIG. 4 is a graphical depiction of a spectral characterization of an embodiment of an ethanolic extract of Nannochloropsis and products after pigments removal as discussed in Example 1.
  • Y axis AU (optical Absorption Units)
  • X axis nm (nanometers, wavelength).
  • FIG. 5 is a graphical depiction of a UV-Visible spectral characterization of an embodiment of an algal extraction as discussed in Example 2.
  • Y axis AU (optical Absorption Units)
  • X axis nm (nanometers, wavelength).
  • lipids means various organic compounds that are insoluble in water. They include fats, waxes, oils, hormones and certain components of membranes.
  • polar lipids means amphiphilic lipids with a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail.
  • examples of polar lipids include phospholipids and glycolipids.
  • non-polar lipids means fatty molecules wherein the charge distribution is largely evenly distributed, and the molecules do not have positively and negatively charged ends.
  • non-polar lipids include triglycerides of the various fatty acids in the oil (e.g., EPA, palmitoleic acid and others, including mixtures thereof such as triglycerides (TAGs) comprising variations or combinations of such fatty acids).
  • biomass means the total mass of biological organisms, including, e.g., plants and microorganisms, and can include, from a biological perspective, cellulose, lignin, lipids, sugars, and proteins. While aspects of the process of the invention are directly relevant to extraction, fractionation and clarification of algal biomass, “biomass” should be considered to include other types of organisms such as those of fungal or other origin, or “biomass” from a given area or volume, unless expressly limited to algal biomass as the sole or primary source.
  • EPA eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, respectively, as well as the salt and ethyl ester forms of each compound.
  • DHA eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, respectively, as well as the salt and ethyl ester forms of each compound.
  • EPA is a twenty-carbon unsaturated chain culminating in a carboxylic acid functional group.
  • natural variants of this acidic form include an alkaline salt, in which the deprotonated carboxylic acid is stabilized by a counter anion, and an ethyl ester, in which two more carbons are singly covalently bonded to the sp 3 -hybridized oxygen so as to result in an ester.
  • an alkaline salt in which the deprotonated carboxylic acid is stabilized by a counter anion
  • ethyl ester in which two more carbons are singly covalently bonded to the sp 3 -hybridized oxygen so as to result in an ester.
  • EPA has twenty-two carbons.
  • DHA in its acidic form is a twenty-two-carbon unsaturated chain culminating in a carboxylic acid functional group and is understood to have natural variants including the alkaline salt and ethyl ester form.
  • DHA has twenty four carbons.
  • Alkaline salt forms of these compounds may manifest spontaneously as a result of particular chemical environments in which they are present.
  • the transformation to the ethyl ester variants is similarly facile, and these variants are also used as medicants to treat, for example, high blood triglyceride levels.
  • Any use of the acronyms “EPA” and “DHA” in the present application should not be construed to exclude the alkaline salt or ethyl ester variants of either compound unless their exclusion is made explicit.
  • an algal paste which presents as a dark green or even black, highly viscous oil can be obtained using standard steps know by those of ordinary skill in the industry. See, e.g., the production of the algal paste and useful varieties of algae employable, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,591 , 912 B1 (hereinafter “Kadam and Goodall”), incorporated herein by reference and additionally discussed herein. Additionally, such an algal biomass useful for extraction may be dry and presented in the form of an algal powder or other suitable form.
  • Procedures for obtaining the algal biomass extract, and starting algae and extraction procedures for preparing the algal biomass can include the following steps, as part of an extraction:
  • a biomass such as an algal paste or powder, e.g., prepared from the algal paste from an appropriate species suitable for producing such a target biomass.
  • dry algal powder can be prepared from an algae paste by, e.g., a drum dryer, a powder dryer, a refractance window dryer, a freeze dryer, an oven, etc. by procedures known to those skilled in such drying arts.
  • microalgae can be harvested by conventional means (including, but not limited to filtration, air flotation and centrifugation) and the algal paste generated by concentrating the harvested microalgae to the desired weight % of solids.
  • the microalgae used with the methods of the invention are members of one of the following divisions: Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta (Cyanobacteria), and Heteromonyphyta.
  • the microalgae used with the methods of the invention are members of one of the following classes: Bacillariophyceae, Eustigmatophyceae, and Chrysophyceae.
  • the microalgae used with the methods of the invention are members of one of the following genera: Nannochloropsis, Chiarella, Dunaliella, Scenedesmus, Selenastrum, Oscillatoria, Phormidium, Spirulina, Amphora, Trachydiscus and Ochromonas.
  • Non-limiting examples of microalgae species that can be used with the methods of the present invention include: Achnanthes orientalis, Agmenellum spp., Amphiprora hyaline, Amphora coffeiformis, Amphora coffeiformis var. linea, Amphora coffeiformis var. punctata, Amphora coffeiformis var.
  • Chaetoceros sp. Chlamydomas perigranulata, Chlorella anitrata, Chlorella antarctica, Chlorella aureoviridis, Chlorella Candida, Chlorella capsulate, Chlorella desiccate, Chlorella ellipsoidea, Chlorella emersonii, Chlorella fusca, Chlorella fusca var. vacuolata, Chlorella glucotropha, Chlorella infusionum, Chlorella infusionum var. actophila, Chlorella infusionum var.
  • Chlorella kessleri Chlorella lobophora
  • Chlorella luteoviridis Chlorella luteoviridis var. aureoviridis
  • Chlorella luteoviridis var. lutescens Chlorella miniata, Chlorella minutissima, Chlorella mutabilis, Chlorella nocturna, Chlorella ovalis, Chlorella parva, Chlorella photophila, Chlorella pringsheimii, Chlorella protothecoides, Chlorella protothecoides var. acidicola, Chlorella regularis, Chlorella regularis var. minima, Chlorella regularis var.
  • Preferred algal species are those, e.g., rich in LC-PUFA oil sources.
  • Exemplary of such algae strains are strains from Nannochloropsis, Chlorella or Trachydiscus minutus algal varieties.
  • the algal paste or other suitable form of algal biomass can be processed as follows: extract, e.g. with a polar solvent such as an alcohol, including, ethanol to form, e.g., an alcoholic extract of algal lipids with a low water content (forming, e.g., an ethanolic extract of Nannochloropsis lipids (hereinafter referred to for brevity as "EEN"); extract the obtained EEN with, e.g., an organic solvent such as the hydrocarbons hexane or heptane to separate out the fraction of non-polar lipids (e.g., triglycerides, waxes, carotenes), thus forming a "non-polar lipid fraction” (F#1 of FIG. 1) in the heptane layer.
  • the alcohol layer containing pigments and polar lipids can be transferred to a further stage of processing. See FIG. 1 .
  • Other solvents such as carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide ethanol mixes may be considered.
  • the next stage of processing can involve adding water to the polar solvent layer extracted, e.g., with heptane and then its sequential extraction with, e.g., heptane, to extract the pigment fraction (see FIG. 1 , heptane layer, F#3) and separating out the polar lipid fraction (see FIG. 1 , water-alcohol layer, F#2).
  • Polar lipids can be obtained from the F#2 fraction by evaporation, and pigments can be obtained by evaporation of the F#3 fraction.
  • the F#1 layer may contain an amount of chlorophylls and carotenoids, which can be removed by methods known to those skilled in the art, e.g., methods known for the production of edible oils.
  • Examples of these methods include adsorption-filtration using silica gel, bleaching clays such as B80, T41 , activated carbon, and others.
  • adsorption-filtration using silica gel bleaching clays such as B80, T41 , activated carbon, and others.
  • the method for production of a low chlorophyll content oil composition via the extraction of algal biomass such as algal paste or powder, so obtained includes both polar and non-polar lipid fractions and also has a chlorophyll concentration.
  • Polarity characteristics of the polar and non-polar lipid fractions of the biomass are used to segregate polar from non-polar components in the algal biomass, including substantially segregating the chlorophyll concentration with the non-polar lipid fraction.
  • additional steps include bleaching out substantially all the chlorophyll concentration from the nonpolar containing fraction; and re-combining the polar and non-polar lipid fractions to produce the low chlorophyll-content oil composition.
  • the present invention also provides for isolated oil derived from algae which are rich in LC-PUFAs, including at least one Omega-3 fatty acid such as, but not limited to, EPA or DHA, at least partially in the form of whole and unhydrolyzed phospholipids and whole and unhydrolyzed glycolipids extracted by the above processes.
  • the oil produced by such process is unexpectedly high in polar lipids such as phospholipids and glycolipids.
  • krill oil by virtue of the contained phospholipids (a polar lipid) has higher bioavailability in mammals than does fish oil, which comprises almost exclusively neutral lipids (triglycerides). See, Jan Philipp Schuchardt et al., in Health and Disease 2011 10:145 Remarkably, the oils extracted from algae such as Nannochloropsis using the inventive methods showed bioavailability to mammals that surpassed even krill oil.
  • biomass oils which include, but are not limited to lipids, chlorophyll, saccharides, carotenoids and CBD utilizing a heated (or in certain circumstances, cooled), pressurized mechanical cartridge or extraction column to extract, e.g., in the case of lipids, by melting them from lipid-containing dry, preferably powdered biomasses (see above for various methods of producing powdered biomasses).
  • lipid-containing powdered biomasses to which this aspect applies include, but are not limited to, algal biomasses, such as the preferred sources (autotrophic, Nannochloropsis-derived, etc. algal biomasses described elsewhere in this application).
  • the biomass oil e.g., lipid extraction
  • a pressurized, temperature-controlled mechanical cartridge to, e.g., melt the lipids contained in a dried biomass
  • the use of the mechanical cartridge has been shown to reduce the processing time to one-third that required when using a standard reactor/mixing tank. For another, this process allows for a substantial reduction in the solvent required for the extraction.
  • the cartridge or extraction column selected is dimensioned to have an inner bore and inlet and outlet ends configured to permit containment of the dry biomass and also to permit and regulate solvent flow.
  • the inner diameter of the mechanical cartridge is constructed of a material, preferably stainless steel, capable of being heated and pressurized and of containing heated and pressurized solvent at ranges sufficient to melt and separate out lipids (or otherwise extract out a target oil based on differentials in reaction to temperature and pressure).
  • the inner diameter of the cartridge can preferably be between 25 and 1000 mm and a straight length, not including the inlet and outlet connections, of between 100 to 1000 mm.
  • these can be between 300 and 500 and 150 mm to 300 mm, respectively. Even more preferably these are 400 mm and 200 mm, respectively.
  • the inlet and outlet ends of the mechanical cartridge which provide for and regulate solvent flow through the inside of the cartridge and through the powdered biomass contained within, include grates, screens, gates, etc. which allow for control and regulation of rates of flow and retention time for the solvent. They also can be used to limit the leftover solid material from passing out of the mechanical cartridge.
  • the material, and its physical form, chosen to fill the cartridge will depend to a degree on the target biomass.
  • the cartridge can be filled with a lipid-containing portion of a dried, preferably powdered, biomass and is heated to a predetermined temperature to facilitate the lipid melting.
  • Non-limiting examples of ways to heat the cartridge itself include jacketing the cartridge, passing a heating fluid around its exterior, immersing it in a heating solution, and via electrical resistance or induction.
  • preheated solvent is pumped through the cartridge at a temperature, pressure, retention time and flow rate optimized to melt the lipids in the lipids-containing portion of the powdered biomass, thereby extracting the lipids in liquid form from portions, e.g., chlorophyll-containing content, retained in the cartridge under the same conditions.
  • the solvent used in the cartridge method may be any applicable solvent.
  • Non-limiting examples include alcohols such as ethanol, hexane, heptane, carbon dioxide or solvent mixtures.
  • the method is applicable to a full range of lipid profile, i.e., polar to non-polar for the associated crude extraction from a dried biomass.
  • An operating principle for the use of the mechanical cartridge is its allowance of extraction with solvents at targeted, e.g., for algal biomasses, elevated temperatures, and pressures.
  • Preferred temperatures for the solvents can be in a range between -30 degrees C and 150 degrees C.
  • For lipid extraction more preferably between 70 degrees C and 110 degrees C, and even more preferably 90 degrees C.
  • Preferred operating pressure of the solvent is between 5 bar and 100 bar, more preferably between 25 and 50 bar, and even more preferably is 30 bar.
  • a cooled solution could similarly be employed for suitable biomass material extraction in which a cooled solvent is more advantageous. .
  • silica gel 1 gram was added to the entire heptane layer obtained and, after vigorous stirring for 5 minutes, the slurry was filtered through a layer of one gram of silica gel (instead of silica gel, activated carbon or T41 bleaching clay can be used). Due to variations in the properties of various silica gels, activated carbons, and bleaching clays, the actual amounts of the materials should be adjusted on plant. (Stage 8, FIG. 1 )
  • the extracted lower layer contained clarified polar lipids (F#2).
  • This fraction can be polished by 3g of, e.g., Amaze-N bleaching sorbent, from Helix Chromatography (15 E. Palantine Rd. #118, Prospect Heights, IL 60070; helixchrom.com), (or similar sorbents can be used, if needed).
  • Amaze-N bleaching sorbent from Helix Chromatography (15 E. Palantine Rd. #118, Prospect Heights, IL 60070; helixchrom.com), (or similar sorbents can be used, if needed).
  • At least 90 weight%, preferably greater than 95 weight%, more preferably greater that 97.5 weight%, even more preferably greater than 98.0 weight%, and most preferably, greater than 99 weight% of the original mass balance is fully retained and can be characterized as to its principal component parts without resorting to leaving a large portion of the mass balance as simply being uncharacterized or characterized only “by subtraction” or “by difference”.
  • Table 1 Extraction mass balance (composition)
  • Table 2 Principal components of the ethanolic extract of Nannochloropsis for mass and weight% analysis of the compositions. (Representing 99.86% of the total algal biomass by weight%.) See FIG. 4 for a spectral characterization of the Nannochloropsis ethanolic extract after removal of pigments.
  • Example 1 the products shown in Example 1 can be broken down into three principal fractions of the incoming ethanolic extract of Nannochloropsis (EEN) — 1 ) Fraction (F#1 ), non-polar lipids, mainly triglycerides; 2) Fraction (F#2), polar lipids, including glycolipids and phospholipids; and Fraction (F#3), a fraction of medium polarity, comprising di- and mono-glycerides, free fatty acids (FFA's), carotenoids and chlorophyll.
  • the clarified F#1 and F#2 fractions can be used as sources of valuable lipids high in palmitoleic and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA).
  • EPA palmitoleic and eicosapentaenoic acids
  • Fractions F#1 -3 can each be used as food additives and are valuable raw materials with high biological potential.
  • a sample of a dark green paste of the algal biomass was prepared generally in accordance with a method outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 8,591 , 912 B1 (see, generally, Col. 6, line 62 to Col. 9, line 3) and discussed herein (see, e.g., at [0025]).
  • the algal biomass paste was extracted with hot absolute ethanol. Specifically, 66 g algal paste, 3x250 mL ethanol, at 75°C, 30' while stirring at 500 rpm each, centrifugal separation at 4450 rpm for 10 minutes, yielded a specimen algal extract.
  • glycolipids diogalactosyl diglycerides (MGDG) and digalactosyl diglycerides (DGDG) and 2) phospholipids (phosphatidlycholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol) (See Table 3, herein.)
  • MGDG monoogalactosyl diglycerides
  • DGDG digalactosyl diglycerides
  • phospholipids phosphatidlycholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol
  • Chlorophylls were bleached from the remaining non-polar lipid components using well developed protocols for vegetable oil bleaching generally as described in Example 1 above; and e.g. 1 gram of silica gel was added to the entire heptane layer obtained and, after vigorous stirring for 5 minutes, the slurry was filtered through a layer of one gram of silica gel (instead of silica gel, activated carbon or T41 bleaching clay can be used). Due to variations in the properties of various silica gels, activated carbons, and bleaching clays, the actual amounts of the materials should generally be adjusted on plant.
  • a bioavailable polar lipid-rich, low chlorophyll-containing oil composition having a generally low viscosity and with a nearly clear to light brown color was obtained. See FIG. 5 for spectral analysis.
  • the composition was a waxy solid at ambient temperature of @ 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The composition melts when warmed and exhibits low viscosity when blended with other oils such as triglycerides and the like.
  • the resulting extract that is now low in, or devoid of, chlorophyll can be further fractionated using, e.g., liquidliquid protocols as described in Examples 1 and 2 to afford clean fractions of the other components such as the polar lipids, non-polar lipids, etc.
  • the weight% of the polar lipid fraction of the total lipid concentration of the produced oil exceeds 20%, preferably exceeds 30%, more preferably exceeds 40%, even more preferably exceeds 50%, and still more preferably is about 70% or above.
  • the weight% of the chlorophyll concentration in the oil product is less than 4% of the weight of the total oil product, more preferably, it is less than 3.0%, yet more preferably, it is less than 2.0%, even more preferably, it is less than 1 .0%, 0.75%, 0.50%, 0.2% and still more preferably, it is 0.1% or below.
  • the weight% of the polysaccharides concentration in the oil product is about 4% or less of the weight of the total oil product, more preferably, it is less than 3.0%, yet more preferably, it is less than 2.5%, 2.0%, even more preferably, it is less than 1 .0%, 0.5% or below.
  • the weight% of glycolipids as a weight% of total polar lipids exceeds 20%, preferably exceeds 30%, more preferably exceeds about 40%, even more preferably exceeds 50%, 60%, 70% and still more preferably it is 80% or above, and its weight% of the total oil composition exceeds 10%, more preferably 20%, and still more preferably is about 25% or above.
  • the weight% of phospholipids as a weight% of polar lipids exceeds 20%, more preferably exceeds 30%, and still more preferably exceeds 35%, and their weight% of the total oil composition exceeds 20%, more preferably 30%, and still more preferably 40%.
  • Elevated bioavailability of the resultant oil is also achieved.
  • the disclosed method does not involve aggressive chemistry such as the use, e.g., of strong mineral acids which frequently destroy polar lipids and can significantly degrade other valuable fractions of the algal biomass.
  • Also obtained in embodiments of processes of the disclosure are powders of non-lipids components such as polysaccharides of the crude ethanolic algal extracts. See FIG. 3.
  • the weight% of the chlorophylls of the composition is less than 4%, preferably less than 3%, yet more preferably less than 2%, even more preferably less than 1%, still more preferably less than 0.5%, 0.5%, and still even more preferably less than 0.1% of the total weight% of the composition.
  • the composition has an enhanced weight% of several other ingredients, including carotenoids, e.g., carotenes (a and P), and zeaxanthins (yellow pigments), and canthaxanthin and zeaxanthin (reddish pigments), with total carotenoids making up more than 0.5% of the total weight of the extract and preferably more than 1 %.
  • carotenoids e.g., carotenes (a and P)
  • zeaxanthins yellow pigments
  • canthaxanthin and zeaxanthin reddish pigments
  • the bioavailable, high polar-lipids containing, EPA-containing, low chlorophyll content oil compositions can be presented as formulations in which other useful ingredients are added. These other useful ingredients can be added alone, or in one or more combinations, e.g., combinations with other essential oils, dietary supplements, health supplements and the like.
  • omega 3 containing oils or components such as DHA and EPA (e.g., in the form of the neutral lipids extracted as a product in the instant invention or externally sourced), the lysolipids from the instant invention, or externally sourced, ethyl esters of DHA or EPA; 2) antioxidants such as carotenoids, including astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, carotenes (alpha and beta), cryptoxanthin, and mixture thereof (including the carotenoid fraction of the instant invention); 3) vitamins, such as vitamin C and D; 4) cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD), and 5) other combinations.
  • DHA and EPA e.g., in the form of the neutral lipids extracted as a product in the instant invention or externally sourced
  • ethyl esters of DHA or EPA ethyl esters of DHA or EPA
  • antioxidants such as carotenoids, including astax
  • formulations including some of these species with less-colored and/or less-viscous compositional profiles, may reduce the overall color profile and viscosity of formulations which include the fatty acid compositions with high polar lipid, high glycolipid, and low chlorophyll concentrations prepared by embodiments of the processes disclosed herein. Thus, this may be achieved, e.g., by inclusion of non-polar lipids, either added back in from original biomass stock, or from an external source, or by preparation of formulations which demonstrate such attributes.
  • nutraceutical formulations including blends of the polar EPA fraction described above with DHA (Omega-3) can beneficially be in a ratio from 10-90 to 90-10, wherein preferable levels of the polar EPA formulation component being mixed at 20-50%.
  • Uses for such formulations include both use as a key food supplement/nutraceutical in its own right for cardiovascular health, mood, anti-depression and more, and also as a delivery system for other neutral lipids and components it is formulated with. This can be DHA, other neutral forms of EPA, or mixtures thereof.
  • Astaxanthin at levels of 0.04% to 10%, preferably 0.1% to 2%, and more preferably 0.2% to 1% can also be beneficially formulated, either with pure polar EPA lipids or blends thereof with neutral EPA and/or EPA.
  • Another component that could be beneficially added to such a formulation is coenzyme Q10 at levels of around 1 -50%, preferably about 2-20% on the polar EPA, either pure or in any of the above formulations.
  • formulation blends with added neutral lipids can be useful to target various viscosity levels, such as 50,000 cps, preferably less than 10,000 cps, more preferably less than about 2,000 cps, and most preferably, about 300 cps or less.

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Abstract

Un procédé de production de compositions d'huile hautement biodisponibles à partir de biomasses et, en particulier, de biomasses d'algues autotrophes, et de production de ruptures d'équilibre de masse caractérisées et clarifiées et de produits composants à partir de ces dernières sans perte de masse significative dans une extraction telle qu'une extraction liquide-liquide, une ségrégation de polarité et l'utilisation de cartouches mécaniques.
PCT/US2022/034537 2022-04-11 2022-06-22 Processus améliorés de production de compositions contenant des oméga-3 à partir d'algues et d'extractions associées WO2023200463A1 (fr)

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Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004026430A2 (fr) * 2002-09-18 2004-04-01 Advanced Phytonics Limited Extraction
US20060128665A1 (en) * 2002-11-26 2006-06-15 Phares Pharmaceutical Research N.V. Marine lipid compositions
WO2010010364A2 (fr) * 2008-07-24 2010-01-28 Pharma Marine As Procédé de purification d’huiles
US20110192073A1 (en) * 2010-04-06 2011-08-11 Heliae Development, Llc Extraction with fractionation of oil and proteinaceous material from oleaginous material
US20120151833A1 (en) * 2010-12-17 2012-06-21 Neste Oil Oyj Lipid Production
US20130129775A1 (en) * 2011-11-17 2013-05-23 Heliae Development, Llc Omega 7 rich compositions and methods of isolating omega 7 fatty acids
US20140242238A1 (en) * 2013-02-28 2014-08-28 Kiran L. Kadam Algae extraction process
US20150252285A1 (en) * 2012-09-25 2015-09-10 The Johns Hopkins University Methods for extraction of lipids from wet algal biomass
KR102271711B1 (ko) * 2012-12-24 2021-07-01 퀄리타스 헬스 인코포레이티드 에이코사펜타엔산 (ｅｐａ) 제형
US11298387B1 (en) * 2020-11-20 2022-04-12 Nooter/Eriksen, Inc. Omega-3 containing compositions

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004026430A2 (fr) * 2002-09-18 2004-04-01 Advanced Phytonics Limited Extraction
US20060128665A1 (en) * 2002-11-26 2006-06-15 Phares Pharmaceutical Research N.V. Marine lipid compositions
WO2010010364A2 (fr) * 2008-07-24 2010-01-28 Pharma Marine As Procédé de purification d’huiles
US20110192073A1 (en) * 2010-04-06 2011-08-11 Heliae Development, Llc Extraction with fractionation of oil and proteinaceous material from oleaginous material
US20120151833A1 (en) * 2010-12-17 2012-06-21 Neste Oil Oyj Lipid Production
US20130129775A1 (en) * 2011-11-17 2013-05-23 Heliae Development, Llc Omega 7 rich compositions and methods of isolating omega 7 fatty acids
US20150252285A1 (en) * 2012-09-25 2015-09-10 The Johns Hopkins University Methods for extraction of lipids from wet algal biomass
KR102271711B1 (ko) * 2012-12-24 2021-07-01 퀄리타스 헬스 인코포레이티드 에이코사펜타엔산 (ｅｐａ) 제형
US20140242238A1 (en) * 2013-02-28 2014-08-28 Kiran L. Kadam Algae extraction process
US11298387B1 (en) * 2020-11-20 2022-04-12 Nooter/Eriksen, Inc. Omega-3 containing compositions

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