US3767527A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for producing hydrocarbon-utilizing yeasts
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1971-10-07
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1991-10-07
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses a method for producing aerobic, hydrocarbon-utilizing yeasts. The yeasts are grown in an oxygencontaining incubation zone in an agitated culture mixture in the form of an oil phase-continuous emulsion of oil and water. The oil phase of the emulsion comprises a hydrocarbon and the water phase comprises an aqueous mineral nutrient solution. The pH of the emulsion is maintained in the range of 2-4 during growth of the yeasts and the yeasts are grown to a desired extent but not to a point where the emulsion inverts into a water phasecontinuous emulsion. The pH of the emulsion is then raised at least one-half pH unit into the range of above 4 but not above 5, thereby separating the emulsion into an oil phase and a water phase, the water phase containing the yeast cells. The yeast cells are then recovered from the water phase.
Inventors
- 👤 V Coty
- 👤 R Leavitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:20
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/26; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/911; Y10S435/921; Y10S435/923; Y10S435/938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
In a method for producing an aerobic, hydrocarbon-utilizing yeast wherein said yeast is grown in an oxygen-containing incubation zone in an agitated culture mixture in the form of an oil phase-continuous emulsion of oil and water, the oil phase of which comprises a hydrocarbon and the water phase of which comprises an aqueous mineral nutrient solution, the improvement comprising:
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
maintaining said emulsion near to inversion conditions by a. initially adding thereto 0.1 to 3.0 percent volume basis, of an emulsifying agent which promotes an oil phase-continuous emulsion and which has an operating temperature falling between 20* and 55* C., b. maintaining the temperature of said emulsion in the range of 20* to 55* C., and c. maintaining the amount of hydrocarbon in said emulsion in the range of 15 to 85 percent, voluMe basis, of said emulsion,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
growing said yeast to a desired extent but not to a point where said emulsion inverts into a higher viscosity, more stable, water phase-continuous emulsion,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
maintaining said emulsion near to inversion conditions by a. initially adding thereto 0.5 to 1.5 percent, volume basis, of an emulsifying agent which promotes an oil phase-continuous emulsion and which has an operating temperature falling between 20* and 55* C., b. maintaining the temperature of said emulsion in the range of 25* to 40* C., and c. maintaining the amount of hydrocarbon in said emulsion in the range of 25 to 75 percent, volume basis, of said emulsion,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a method for producing an aerobic, hydrocarbon-utilizing yeast wherein said yeast is grown in an oxygen-containing incubation zone in an agitated culture mixture in the form of an oil phase-continuous emulsion of oil and water, the oil phase of which comprises a hydrocarbon and the water phase of which comprises an aqueous mineral nutrient solution, the improvement comprising:
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
growing said yeast to a desired extent but not to a point where said emulsion inverts into a higher viscosity, more stable, water phase-continuous emulsion,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
thereafter bringing said emulsion to breakdown point by raising the pH of said emulsion at least one-half pH unit into the range of above 4 but not above 5, thereby separating said emulsion into an oil phase and a water phase, said water phase containing the cells of said yeast, and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
growing said yeast to a desired extent but not to a point where said emulsion inverts into a higher viscosity, more stable, water phase-continuous emulsion,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
thereafter bringing said emulsion to breakdown point by raising the pH of said emulsion at least one-half pH unit into the range of above 4 but not above 5, thereby separating said emulsion into an oil phase and a water phase, said water phase containing cells of said yeast, and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
8 words
recovering said yeast cells from said water phase.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said yeast is Candida lipolytica.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
thereafter bringing said emulsion to breakdown point by raising the pH of said emulsion at least one-half pH unit into the range of above 4 but not above 5, thereby separating said emulsion into an oil phase and a water phase, said water phase containing cells of said yeast, and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
8 words
recovering said yeast cells from said water phase.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
8 words
recovering said yeast cells from said water phase.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said yeast is Pichia polymorphus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |