Algae Lipid Precipitation for High Intracellular Content

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing algae with high lipid content are limited by the toxicity of dissolved lipids to cells, which inhibits lipid accumulation beyond certain concentrations, leading to low intracellular lipid levels and inefficient biodiesel production.

Innovation Solution

The method involves combining algae with lipid-precipitating additions in a growth-inhibitive medium, deficient in necessary nutrients, to form insoluble lipid particles, allowing for high intracellular lipid content (>50-80% of cell dry weight) by using hydroxyl-containing or amine-containing compounds, and optionally combining with organic acid additions to enhance lipid production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If dissolved lipid concentration is increased in algae cells, then lipid content is improved, but cell toxicity increases due to pH lowering and enzyme denaturation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelipid contentVSAvoidcell toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies phase transition by converting dissolved lipids (aqueous phase) into insoluble lipid particles (separate phase). This phase separation allows lipids to accumulate to high concentrations (>50-80% of cell dry weight) without remaining in toxic dissolved form, thereby resolving the contradiction between increasing lipid content and avoiding cell toxicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of lipid accumulation (which normally causes toxicity) into a beneficial outcome by inducing insolubility. The same lipids that would be toxic when dissolved become beneficial when precipitated as insoluble particles, allowing high concentration storage without harm to the algae cells

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Quantity of substance

If lipid concentration is increased beyond certain levels, then lipid content is improved, but growth inhibition occurs due to toxic effects on cells

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelipid contentVSAvoidgrowth rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By inducing lipid insolubility and phase separation, the patent enables high lipid accumulation without the growth inhibition that normally occurs at high concentrations. The insoluble particles do not interfere with cellular functions, allowing both high lipid content and maintained productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

3Quantity of substance

If traditional photosynthetic lipid accumulation is used, then lipid production is achieved, but the process is slow and limited by nutrient availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelipid production rateVSAvoidaccumulation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the metabolic parameters by switching from photosynthetic to heterotrophic metabolism. This parameter change enables rapid lipid accumulation using organic carbon sources, bypassing the slow photosynthetic pathway and nutrient limitation constraints, thereby significantly increasing production rate and reducing accumulation time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly increases intracellular lipid content, reducing unit costs for lipid collection and separation, and enables the direct formation of biodiesel without the need for transesterification, improving productivity and yield.

Implementation Method 1

combining algae and a lipid-precipitating addition in a growth-inhibitive medium... said lipid-precipitating addition selected from hydroxyl-containing compounds and amine-containing compounds... Formation of insoluble lipid particles or droplets avoids such negative effects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Data Source

PatentUS10584361B2Algae having intracellular lipid particles and high lipid content

Publication Date: 2020.03.10 THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

AI summary

A method for increasing the lipid content of algae includes combining algae and a lipid-precipitating addition in a growth-inhibitive medium, the growth-inhibitive medium being deficient in at least one nutrient that is necessary for reproductive growth of algae, thus frustrating algae reproduction, the lipid-precipitating addition selected from hydroxyl-containing compounds and amine-containing compounds. An organic acid addition may also be combined with the lipid-precipitating addition and algae in the growth-inhibitive medium, the organic acid addition including compounds containing carboxylic acid functionality. Direct production of biodiesel is also achieved by the use of particular lipid-precipitating additions and organic acid additions.