491 results about "Algal cells" patented technology

The invention provides algal biomass, algal oil, food compositions comprising microalgal biomass, whole microalgal cells, and/or microalgal oil in combination with one or more other edible ingredients, and methods of making such compositions by combining algal biomass or algal oil with other edible ingredients. In preferred embodiments, the microalgal components are derived from microalgal cultures grown and propagated heterotrophically in which the algal cells comprise at least 10% algal oil by dry weight.

A method is provided to produce biodiesel from algae using a strain of microalga chlorella protothecoids, by screening a specific strain with characteristics of high yield of biomass and high oil content, cultivating the screened strain for high-cell-density growth for up to 108 grams of dry cell weight per liter of the suspension in a bioreactor using solutions containing carbohydrates as feed, harvesting and drying the high density cultivated algal cells to extract oil from the dried algal cells, and producing the biodiesel by reaction of catalyzed transesterification using the extracted oil as feedstock.

Embodiments of the present invention concern methods, compositions, and apparatus for the continuous conversion of algal lipids into biodiesel. In some embodiments, the biodiesel is formed in a multi-step sequence, the first steps occurring in the presence of water and a strong acid wherein the lipids are released from the algae by means of mechanical and chemical action and are then hydrolyzed to free fatty acids. In a subsequent step, this free fatty acid mixture is reacted with methanol to generate fatty acid methyl esters (also known as biodiesel). Such methods produce biodiesel from algal lipids without the requirement for separate algal cell lysis or lipid extraction or purification prior to the acid catalysis sequence. In other embodiments, the multi-step acid catalysis sequence occurs at 100° C. at two atmospheres of pressure.

A method for producing biofuels along with valuable food and neutraceutical products is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids along with carotenoids and chlorophylls from the algal biomass, and separation of the carotenoids and chlorophylls using adsorption or membrane diafiltration or other methods. The remaining neutral lipids are esterified with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising omega-3 fatty acids esters and remaining carotenoids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.

A method of dewatering algae and recycling water therefrom is presented. A method of dewatering a wet algal cell culture includes removing liquid from an algal cell culture to obtain a wet algal biomass having a lower liquid content than the algal cell culture. At least a portion of the liquid removed from the algal cell culture is recycled for use in a different algal cell culture. The method includes adding a water miscible solvent set to the wet algal biomass and waiting an amount of time to permit algal cells of the algal biomass to gather and isolating at least a portion of the gathered algal cells from at least a portion of the solvent set and liquid of the wet algal biomass so that a dewatered algal biomass is generated. The dewatered algal biomass can be used to generated algal products such as biofuels and nutraceuticals.

A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.

A method for separating polar lipids from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting polar lipids from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal polar lipids from a wet algal biomass while avoiding emulsification of extraction mixtures. These polar lipids are high value products which can be used as surfactants, detergents, and food additives. Neutral lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of polar lipids can be used to generate renewable fuels.

A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, sequentially adding solvent sets to the algal biomass, and sequentially separating solid biomass fractions from liquid fractions to arrive at a liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids. The method also includes esterifying the neutral lipids, separating a water miscible fraction comprising glycerin from a water immiscible fraction comprising fuel esters, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids. The method also includes obtaining a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.

Delivery systems and methods are provided for delivering a biologically active protein to a host animal. The systems and methods provided include obtaining an algal cell transformed by an expression vector, the expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the biologically active protein, operably linked to a promoter. In one illustrated embodiment, the biologically active protein is an antigenic epitope and upon administration to the animal the algal cell induces an immune response in the host animal.

The invention relates to a method that could cultivate algae by PH feedback control to add CO2 that belongs to tiny algae cultivating field. The PH value of culture solution is set in a certain range, and according to the difference between the practical test vale of the PH value in the culture solution and the preset value, the CO2 would be added to make the PH value be in the certain range of the preset value. It would not be finished until the condition that could stop cultivating emerges. The invention realizes automatically adding carbon and automatically controlling PH value for algae cultivation.

Provided herein are exemplary vectors for transforming algal cells. In exemplary embodiments, the vector comprises a Violaxanthin-chlorophyll a binding protein (Vcp) promoter driving expression of an antibiotic resistance gene in an algal cell. Embodiments of the invention may be used to introduce a gene (or genes) into the alga Nannochloropsis, such that the gene(s) are expressed and functional. This unprecedented ability to transform Nannochloropsis with high efficiency makes possible new developments in phycology, aquaculture and biofuels applications.

A method for separating neutral lipids from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting neutral lipids from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal neutral lipids from a wet algal biomass while avoiding emulsification of extraction mixtures. The neutral lipids are removed after first removing a polar lipid fraction and a protein fraction. These neutral lipids can be used to generate renewable fuels as well as food products and supplements.

The invention provides a method and a device for collecting microalgae through continuous culture and in-situ self-flocculation and belongs to the technical field of microbial culture. The method comprises the following steps of: culturing microalgae cells through a bubble stirring column type photobioreactor, separating the microalgae cells through an in-situ sedimentation method, and discharging concentrated microalgae slurry from the bottom of a cone at the lower end of the column; and directly supplementing in flocculated supernatant and continuously culturing the microalgae cells. The organic wastewater recycling, CO2 biological fixation and continuous microalgae culture and separation can be simultaneously realized, the cost of culturing microalgae in a large scale is reduced, and the culture and recovery efficiency is improved; the culture solution is recycled, so that the treatment quantity is greatly reduced; the microalgae culture and recovery process is simple and is convenient to operate; and moreover, the equipment is simple in structure, low in cost and wide in application range and has the potential of industrial popularization and application.

A method for separating polar lipids from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting polar lipids from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal polar lipids from a wet algal biomass while avoiding emulsification of extraction mixtures. These polar lipids are high value products which can be used as surfactants, detergents, and food additives. Neutral lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of polar lipids can be used to generate renewable fuels.

The invention provides an image processing method and device. The method includes: acquiring a target image including algal cells; binarizing the target image to obtain a target gray image; extracting connected areas in the target gray image, and calculating area of each connected area; dividing preset algal area by the area of each connected area to obtain a quotient of each connected area; using a sum of the quotients of the connected areas, as the amount of the algal cells included in the target image. The algal cells intersecting together are not subjected to image splitting, thus, the number of the algal cells can be accurately counted, and accuracy of counting the algal cells is improved.

The invention provides a preparation method of a wave absorbing material with nickel nanoparticles wrapped with porous carbon-loaded graphene. The preparation method of the wave absorbing material with the nickel nanoparticles wrapped with the porous carbon-loaded graphene comprises the steps that alga are used as a carbon source and soaked in a nickel saline solution, and nickel ions are made to enter algal cells; low-temperature heat treatment is conducted on the alga after the alga are frozen and dried, so that the alga are converted into carbon, and metallic nickel slat is oxidized into nickel oxide; and then the temperature is increased to continue to conduct high-temperature heat treatment, so that the nickel oxide is reduced into nickel, the amorphous carbon wrapping the nickel nanoparticles is catalyzed and graphitized in the heat treatment process, and finally the composite material with the nickel nanoparticles wrapped with the porous carbon-loaded graphene is obtained. According to the preparation method of the wave absorbing material with the nickel nanoparticles wrapped with the porous carbon-loaded graphene, the alga are used as the carbon source, and thus the preparation method is economical and practical; nickel is evenly dispersed onto a carbon material by means of the characteristic that holes of natural algal plants are abundant; a porous carbon material of a network structure is obtained after heat treatment, the nickel particles wrapped with the graphene are dispersed on the surface of the porous carbon material, and thus the material has excellent micro-wave absorption performance.

The invention discloses a Schizochytrium sp.TIO1101 strain with high-yield DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and a fermentation method thereof. The Schizochytrium sp.TIO1101 strain provided by the invention has a preservation number of CGMCC (China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center) No.4603. After the Schizochytrium sp.TIO1101 is subjected to high-density heterotrophic fermentation for 72h, the biomass liveweight, the lipid content and the DHA are respectively 120g/L, 54.3% and 51.4% of the content of total lipid, therefore the Schizochytrium sp.TIO1101 has development and application values extremely. The Schizochytrium sp.TIO1101 disclosed by the invention has the advantages that: the Schizochytrium sp.TIO1101is obtained through separation; the high-density heterotrophic fermentation of the Schizochytrium sp.TIO1101 is realized; and the lipid extracted from the Schizochytrium sp.TIO1101 cells obtained under the fermentation condition has high DHA content and purer components.

A microalgae suspension-adhesion mixed culture and separated harvesting method based on a suspended carrier comprises the following steps: on the basis of original microalgae suspension culture, a predetermined amount of solid carrier is added into a culture solution and enabled to suspend in the liquid phase in an aerating or mechanical stirring manner; during cultivation, the microalgae is enabled to attach to a solid carrier to form an algae membrane; the solid carrier is separated to harvest algae cells; the solid carrier from which the algae cells are harvested is recovered for recycling and re-injected into the microalgae culture solution; serving as seeds, the liquid-phase algae cells are re-attached to the solid carrier to grow, so that continuous culture and harvest of the algae cells are realized. Compared with the air floatation, precipitation, centrifugation, filtering and other harvest methods, the microalgae suspension-adhesion mixed culture and separated harvesting method is simple to operate, dispenses with agents, is low in energy consumption, and can realize large-scale and mechanical continuous harvesting, thereby effectively saving the cost in harvesting the algae cells.