Abstract: Methods are provided for pelletizing a microbial biomass, extracting a refined lipid composition from the pelletized biomass under supercritical conditions and distilling the refined lipid composition, at least once under short path distillation conditions, to obtain a lipid-containing fraction. Also disclosed are methods of making lipid-containing oil concentrates therefrom, by transesterifying and enriching the lipid-containing fraction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for reducing the amount of sterol in a sterol-containing microbial oil composition, including distilling, under short path distillation conditions, a sterol-containing microbial oil wherein said distillation produces a distillate fraction containing the sterol and a triacylglycerol-containing fraction having a reduced amount of the sterol when compared to the amount of sterol in the sterol-containing microbial oil composition that has not been subjected to short path distillation.

Abstract: Methods are provided for pelletizing a microbial biomass, extracting a refined lipid composition from the pelletized biomass under supercritical conditions and distilling the refined lipid composition, at least once under short path distillation conditions, to obtain a lipid-containing fraction. Also disclosed are methods of making lipid-containing oil concentrates therefrom, by transesterifying and enriching the lipid-containing fraction.

Abstract: A process including: (a) mixing a microbial biomass, comprising oil-containing microbes, and at least one grinding agent capable of absorbing oil, to provide a disrupted biomass mix; (b) blending at least one binding agent with said disrupted biomass mix to provide a fixable mix capable of forming a solid pellet; and, (c) forming the solid pellet from the fixable mix. The process optionally includes extracting the solid pellet with a solvent to provide an extracted microbial oil.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly efficient process for manufacturing copolyether glycol having a mean molecular weight of from about 650 to about 5000 dalton by polymerization of tetrahydrofuran and at least one alkylene oxide in the presence of an acid catalyst and at least one compound containing reactive hydrogen atoms. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for manufacturing copolyether glycol which comprises recycle to the polymerization reaction step of at least a portion of the oligomeric cyclic ether which is co-produced with the copolyether glycol, said process exhibiting an Space Time Yield value of greater than about 0.9.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved, fully-integrated continuous process of enhanced process operability for manufacturing copolyether glycols having enhanced physical properties by polymerization of a reaction mixture comprising tetrahydrofuran and at least one alkylene oxide in the presence of an acid catalyst and at least one compound containing reactive hydrogen atoms. The copolyether glycols manufactured by the present process have enhanced physical properties of increased alkylene oxide incorporation, average molecular weight and polydispersity, as well as reduced crystallinity, color, oligomeric cyclic ether content, and linear oligomer having an average molecular weight of up to about 400 dalton content.

Abstract: Methods are provided for pelletizing a microbial biomass, extracting a refined lipid composition from the pelletized biomass under supercritical conditions and distilling the refined lipid composition, at least once under short path distillation conditions, to obtain a lipid-containing fraction. Also disclosed are methods of making lipid-containing oil concentrates therefrom, by transesterifying and enriching the lipid-containing fraction.

Abstract: A process including: (a) mixing a microbial biomass, comprising oil-containing microbes, and at least one grinding agent capable of absorbing oil, to provide a disrupted biomass mix; (b) blending at least one binding agent with said disrupted biomass mix to provide a fixable mix capable of forming a solid pellet; and, (c) forming the solid pellet from the fixable mix. The process optionally includes extracting the solid pellet with a solvent to provide an extracted microbial oil.

Abstract: An omega-3 oil concentrate comprising at least 70 weight percent of eicosapentaenoic acid [“EPA”; cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid; omega-3], measured as a weight percent of oil, and substantially free of docosahexaenoic acid, said concentrate obtained from a microbial oil having 30 to 70 weight percent of eicosapentaenoic acid, measured as a weight percent of total fatty acids, and substantially free of docosahexaenoic acid and wherein said microbial oil is obtained from a microorganism that accumulates in excess of 25% of its dry cell weight as oil. Also disclosed are methods of making such eicosapentaenoic acid concentrates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for reducing the amount of sterol in a sterol-containing microbial oil composition, including distilling, under short path distillation conditions, a sterol-containing microbial oil wherein said distillation produces a distillate fraction containing the sterol and a triacylglycerol-containing fraction having a reduced amount of the sterol when compared to the amount of sterol in the sterol-containing microbial oil composition that has not been subjected to short path distillation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for manufacturing copolyether glycols with high incorporation of alkylene oxide by polymerization of tetrahydrofuran and at least one alkylene oxide in the presence of an acid catalyst, at least one compound containing reactive hydrogen atoms, and a specific diluent or solvent. More particularly, the invention relates to a diluent or solvent-assisted continuous process for manufacturing copolyether glycols with high incorporation of alkylene oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly efficient process for manufacturing copolyether glycol having a mean molecular weight of from about 650 to about 5000 dalton by polymerization of tetrahydrofuran and at least one alkylene oxide in the presence of an acid catalyst and at least one compound containing reactive hydrogen atoms. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for manufacturing copolyether glycol which comprises recycle to the polymerization reaction step of at least a portion of the oligomeric cyclic ether which is co-produced with the copolyether glycol, said process exhibiting an Space Time Yield value of greater than about 0.9.

Abstract: A method of microbial cell disruption for use in making an aquaculture feed composition is disclosed, wherein a microbial biomass having a moisture level less than 10 weight percent and comprising oil-containing microbes is disrupted, resulting in a disruption efficiency of at least 30% of the oil-containing microbes to produce a disrupted microbial biomass, and, the disrupted microbial biomass is mixed with at least one aquaculture feed component to form an aquaculture feed composition.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for obtaining a refined lipid composition comprising at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid from a microbial biomass, wherein the refined lipid composition comprises at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid and is enriched in triacylglycerols relative to the oil composition of the microbial biomass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for manufacturing copolyether glycols with high incorporation of alkylene oxide by polymerization of tetrahydrofuran and at least one alkylene oxide in the presence of an acid catalyst, at least one compound containing reactive hydrogen atoms, and a specific diluent or solvent. More particularly, the invention relates to a diluent or solvent-assisted continuous process for manufacturing copolyether glycols with high incorporation of alkylene oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for manufacturing copolyether glycol having a mean molecular weight of from about 650 to about 5000 dalton by polymerization of tetrahydrofuran and at least one alkylene oxide in the presence of an acid catalyst and at least one compound containing reactive hydrogen atoms. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for manufacturing copolyether glycol which comprises recycle to the polymerization reaction step of at least a portion of the oligomeric cyclic ether which is co-produced with the copolyether glycol.

Abstract: A method for accurate, on site heat flow measurement through a substrate surface using surface mounted heat flow sensors and an apparatus for on site calibration of surface mounted heat flow sensors are presented. The method comprises mounting on the substrate surface a heat flow sensor which is calibrated to establish the relationship between heat flow through the surface and the resultant induced voltage in the sensor under the convective and radiative heat transfer environmental conditions of the surface, measuring the voltage output induced in the sensor by heat flow through the surface, and converting the voltage output to a quantitative heat flow on the basis of the calibration of the sensor. The apparatus of the invention permits the calibration of the sensors under convective and radiative heat transfer environmental conditions which substantially duplicate those of the experimental substrate.