Abstract: An improved pasteurisation protocol for pasteurising microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has three stages, a first heating stage, a second plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a third cooling stage. Both the heating and the cooling stages are rapid, with the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurisation protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, one obtains a trapezium having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. Not only does this result in a smaller energy input (and so a reduction in costs), but a better quality (and less oxidised) oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: An improved pasteurisation protocol for pasteurising microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has three stages, a first heating stage, a second plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a third cooling stage. Both the heating and the cooling stages are rapid, with the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurisation protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, one obtains a trapezium having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. Not only does this result in a smaller energy input (and so a reduction in costs), but a better quality (and less oxidised) oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: An improved pasteurisation protocol for pasteurising microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has three stages, a first heating stage, a second plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a third cooling stage. Both the heating and the cooling stages are rapid, with the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurisation protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, one obtains a trapezium having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. Not only does this result in a smaller energy input (and so a reduction in costs), but a better quality (and less oxidized) oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: A stable aqueous liquid lactase formulation is provided, comprising lactase and further comprising sodium, calcium or potassium-L-lactate or a combination thereof and optionally a sugar, and/or optionally comprising sodium or potassium chloride or a combination thereof, preferably wherein the concentration of each of the components is such that the water activity Aw is at most 0.82. The formulation is particularly suitable when using invertase-free lactase, allowing the use of sucrose as stabilizer. Also provided is a process to produce the liquid lactase formulation, an infant formula (e.g. as powder of granulate) comprising the liquid lactase formulation, a method to produce said infant formula, and the use of the formulation in the production of infant formula.

Abstract: A process for producing an oil, or a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), is described where an aqueous liquid comprising cells is deaerated, and the oil or PUFA is obtained from the cells. Deaeration can be performed by a wide variety of techniques, including the application of a vacuum (or reduced pressure), mechanical deaeration or degassing by reduced stirring or subjecting the broth to centrifugal forces, reducing viscosity (by dilution or heating), reduction in the supply of oxygen or air during fermentation or a reduction in stirring rate, lowering the pH (to lower the solubility of CO2), filtration using PTFE capillaries, gas displacement (by bubbling in nitrogen or helium) or chemical deaeration (using oxygen scavengers).

Abstract: An improved pasteurisation protocol for pasteurising microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has three stages, a first heating stage, a second plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a third cooling stage. Both the heating and the cooling stages are rapid, with the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurisation protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, one obtains a trapezium having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. Not only does this result in a smaller energy input (and so a reduction in costs), but a better quality (and less oxidised) oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: The invention provides an aqueous liquid lactase formulation comprising lactase and further comprising sodium, calcium or potassium-L-lactate or a combination thereof and optionally a sugar, and/or optionally comprising sodium or potassium chloride or a combination thereof, preferably wherein the concentration of each of the components is such that the water activity Aw is at most 0.82. The formulation is particularly suitable when using invertase-free lactase, allowing the use of sucrose as stabilizer. The invention also provides a process to produce the liquid lactase formulation of the invention, an infant formula (e.g. as powder of granulate) comprising the liquid lactase formulation of the invention, a method to produce said infant formula, and the use of the formulation in the production of infant formula.

Abstract: A pasteurization protocol for pasteurizing microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has a heating stage, a plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a cooling stage. The heating and cooling stages are rapid, the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurization protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.), one obtains a trapezium having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. This results in a smaller energy input (so a reduction in costs) and a better quality oil having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: A process for the isolation of desired compound(s) from a microbial biomass is disclosed, wherein the microbial biomass (which, if necessary, is pretreated to give a dry matter content of from 25 to 80%) is granulated (e.g. by extrusion) and then dried to a dry matter content of at least 80%. The granulation of the biomass to granules significantly eases subsequent drying of the biomass (which can be stored as dried granules) and gives higher yields on extraction of the compound(s).

Abstract: A protocol for pasteurizing microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has three stages, a first heating stage, a second plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a third cooling stage. The heating and cooling stages are rapid, with the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurization protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, a trapezium is obtained having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. This results in a smaller energy input and a better quality oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: An improved pasteurisation protocol for pasteurising microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has three stages, a first heating stage, a second plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a third cooling stage. Both the heating and the cooling stages are rapid, with the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurisation protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, one obtains a trapezium having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. Not only does this result in a smaller energy input (and so a reduction in costs), but a better quality (and less oxidised) oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: A protocol for pasteurising microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has three stages, a first heating stage, a second plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a third cooling stage. The heating and cooling stages are rapid, with the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurisation protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, a trapezium is obtained having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. This results in a smaller energy input and a better quality oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: A pasteurisation protocol for pasteurising microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has a heating stage, a plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a cooling stage. The heating and cooling stages are rapid, the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurisation protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, one obtains a trapezium having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. This results in a smaller energy input (so a reduction in costs) and a better quality (and less oxidised) oil having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: An improved pasteurisation protocol for pasteurising microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has three stages, a first heating stage, a second plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a third cooling stage. Both the heating and the cooling stages are rapid, with the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurisation protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, one obtains a trapezium having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. Not only does this result in a smaller energy input (and so a reduction in costs), but a better quality (and less oxidised) oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: A process for producing an oil, or a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), is described where an aqueous liquid comprising cells is deaerated, and the oil or PUFA is obtained from the cells. Deaeration can be performed by a wide variety of techniques, including the application of a vacuum (or reduced pressure), mechanical deaeration or degassing by reduced stirring or subjecting the broth to centrifugal forces, reducing viscosity (by dilution or heating), reduction in the supply of oxygen or air during fermentation or a reduction in stirring rate, lowering the pH (to lower the solubility of CO2), filtration using PTFE capillaries, gas displacement (by bubbling in nitrogen or helium) or chemical deaeration (using oxygen scavengers).

Abstract: A process for producing an oil, or a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), is described where an aqueous liquid comprising cells is deaerated, and the oil or PUFA is obtained from the cells. Deaeration can be performed by a wide variety of techniques, including the application of a vacuum (or reduced pressure), mechanical deaeration or degassing by reduced stirring or subjecting the broth to centrifugal forces, reducing viscosity (by dilution or heating), reduction in the supply of oxygen or air during fermentation or a reduction in stirring rate, lowering the pH (to lower the solubility of CO2), filtration using PTFE capillaries, gas displacement (by bubbling in nitrogen or helium) or chemical deaeration (using oxygen scavengers).

Abstract: A process for the isolation of desired compound(s) from a microbial biomass is disclosed, wherein the microbial biomass (which, if necessary, is pretreated to give a dry matter content of from 25 to 80%) is granulated (e.g. by extrusion) and then dried to a dry matter content of at least 80%. The granulation of the biomass to granules significantly eases subsequent drying of the biomass (which can be stored as dried granules) and gives higher yields on extraction of the compound(s).

Abstract: An improved pasteurisation protocol for pasteurising microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has three stages, a first heating stage, a second plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a third cooling stage. Both the heating and the cooling stages are rapid, with the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurisation protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, one obtains a trapezium having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. Not only does this result in a smaller energy input (and so a reduction in costs), but a better quality (and less oxidised) oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: An improved pasteurization protocol for pasteurizing microbial cells is disclosed. The protocol has three stages, a first heating stage, a second plateau stage at which the cells are held at a (maximum and) constant temperature, and a third cooling stage. Both the heating and the cooling stages are rapid, with the temperature of the cells passing through 40 to 80° C. in no more than 30 minutes in the heating stage. The heating rate is at least 0.5° C./minute and during cooling is at least ?0.5° C./minute. The plateau maximum temperature is from 70 to 85° C. By plotting the pasteurization protocol on a time (t, minutes) versus temperature (T, ° C.) graph, one obtains a trapezium having an area less than 13,000° C. minute. Not only does this result in a smaller energy input (and so a reduction in costs), but a better quality (and less oxidized) oil results having a peroxide value (POV) of less than 1.5 and an anisidine value (AnV) of less than 1.0.

Abstract: The extraction of a microbial or single cell oil, for example comprising one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), directly from microbial cells is disclosed which avoids the need for solvents. After fermentation, the microbial cells are pasteurised, washed and the cell walls lysed or disrupted by a mechanical (e.g. homogenisation), physical (boiling or drying), chemical (solvents) or enzymatic (cell wall degrading enzymes) technique. The oil (containing the PUFA) is then separated from the resulting cell wall debris. This is achieved by centrifugation, which results in an oily phase (top layer) that contains the oil which that can be separated from an aqueous phase (containing the cell wall debris). The oil can then be extracted and if necessary the PUFA can be purified or isolated from the oil.