US 11,781,162 B2
Two-stage process for producing oil from microalgae
James R. Oyler, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Assigned to Genifuel Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed by Genifuel Corporation, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed on Oct. 15, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/71,821.
Application 17/071,821 is a continuation of application No. 15/404,098, filed on Jan. 11, 2017, abandoned.
Application 15/404,098 is a continuation of application No. 14/552,325, filed on Nov. 24, 2014, abandoned.
Application 14/552,325 is a continuation of application No. 13/932,955, filed on Jul. 1, 2013, abandoned.
Application 13/932,955 is a continuation of application No. 13/026,767, filed on Feb. 14, 2011, granted, now 8,475,543, issued on Jul. 2, 2013.
Application 13/026,767 is a continuation of application No. 11/966,917, filed on Dec. 28, 2007, granted, now 7,905,930, issued on Mar. 15, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/877,786, filed on Dec. 29, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2021/0071213 A1, Mar. 11, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C12P 7/64 (2022.01); C10L 1/02 (2006.01); C10L 1/08 (2006.01); C10G 45/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12P 7/62 (2022.01); C10G 3/00 (2006.01); C11B 1/02 (2006.01); C11B 3/00 (2006.01); C12P 7/06 (2006.01); C11C 3/04 (2006.01); C12P 7/649 (2022.01); C12P 7/6409 (2022.01)
CPC C12P 7/649 (2013.01) [C10G 3/00 (2013.01); C10G 3/50 (2013.01); C10G 45/00 (2013.01); C10L 1/02 (2013.01); C10L 1/026 (2013.01); C10L 1/08 (2013.01); C11B 1/025 (2013.01); C11B 3/003 (2013.01); C11C 3/04 (2013.01); C12M 21/02 (2013.01); C12M 21/12 (2013.01); C12M 23/58 (2013.01); C12M 43/02 (2013.01); C12M 47/06 (2013.01); C12P 7/065 (2013.01); C12P 7/62 (2013.01); C12P 7/64 (2013.01); C12P 7/6409 (2013.01); C10G 2300/1014 (2013.01); C10L 2200/0476 (2013.01); C10L 2270/026 (2013.01); C10L 2290/26 (2013.01); C10L 2290/544 (2013.01); Y02E 50/10 (2013.01); Y02P 20/10 (2015.11); Y02P 30/20 (2015.11)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for production of biofuels from algae, comprising:
a) inducing algae cell body production of an oil-producing algae by photoautotrophic growth;
b) initiating heterotrophic growth of the oil-producing algae using a stress induction mechanism;
c) inducing algal oil production by heterotrophic growth of the oil-producing algae, wherein the heterotrophic growth includes introducing a sugar feed to the oil-producing algae; and
d) extracting an algal oil from the oil-producing algae, wherein the algal oil is extracted by either mechanically rupturing or biologically rupturing an algae cell wall, an oil vesicle wall, or a combination thereof.