	US 11,739,219 B2
	Biologically-derived carbon black alternative and method of making the same
Aparna Nagarajan, Thornton, CO (US); Fiona Davies, Lakewood, CO (US); Scott Fulbright, Denver, CO (US); Stevan Albers, Fort Collins, CO (US); and Kangmin Kim, Westminster, CO (US)
Assigned to Living Ink Technologies, LLC, Berthoud, CO (US)
Filed by Living Ink Technologies, LLC, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed on May 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/315,204.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/021,494, filed on May 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0347996 A1, Nov. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. C09C 1/48 (2006.01); C12P 3/00 (2006.01); C01B 32/05 (2017.01)

CPC C09C 1/48 (2013.01) [C01B 32/05 (2017.08); C12P 3/00 (2013.01); C01P 2006/60 (2013.01)]

21 Claims

1. A method for producing a carbon black pigment from a microbial biomass comprising:

providing a microbial biomass solution comprising a plurality microbial cells in an aqueous solvent;

nucleating the plurality of microbial cells by adding a first soluble ion to the microbial biomass solution;

initiating crystal formation in and/or on the plurality of microbial cells by adding a second soluble ion to the microbial biomass solution, forming a plurality of crystal encrusted microbial cells, wherein the charge of the first soluble ion is the opposite of the charge of the second soluble ion and wherein the crystals are formed from precipitation of the first and second ions;

performing thermal processing of the plurality of crystal encrusted microbial cells to form a charred biomass; and

washing the charred biomass to form a microbechar.