Process for the Heterotrophic Production of Microbial Products with High Concentrations of Omega-3 Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for growing the microflora Thraustochytrium, Schizochytrium and mixtures thereof, which includes the growing of the microflora in fermentation medium containing non-chloride containing sodium salts, in particular sodium sulfate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process produces microflora having a cell aggregate size useful for the production of food products for use in aquaculture. Further disclosed is a food product which includes Thraustochytrium, Schizochytrium and mixtures thereof, and a component selected from flaxseed, rapeseed, soybean and avocado meal. Such a food product includes a balance of long chain and short chain omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids.

1 - 73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . A process for culturing a microorganism of the order Thraustochytriales for the production of lipids, the process comprising:
 culturing the microorganism of the order Thraustochytriales in a culture medium that comprises a chloride concentration of less than 3 grams of chloride per liter of said culture medium and that comprises a non-chloride source of sodium, wherein the culturing produces a yield of biomass per sugar of 50% or greater.   
     
     
         75 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the culture medium comprises a non-chloride source of sodium providing a sodium concentration in a range of from 1 g/L to 50 g/L. 
     
     
         76 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the culture medium comprises between about 60 mg and about 120 mg of chloride per liter of the culture medium. 
     
     
         77 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the culture medium comprises a non-chloride source of sodium providing a sodium concentration in a range of from 2 g/L to 25 g/L. 
     
     
         78 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the lipids comprise at least one highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA). 
     
     
         79 . The process of  claim 78 , wherein the at least one HUFA is selected from the group consisting of DHA, EPA, DPA(n-6), and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         80 . The process of  claim 79 , wherein the at least one HUFA comprises DHA. 
     
     
         81 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the non-chloride source of sodium provides a sodium concentration in an amount less than 25 g/L. 
     
     
         82 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein a source of chloride comprises sodium chloride. 
     
     
         83 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the microorganism produces up to about 12% total cellular dry weight percent (% dwt) omega-3 fatty acids. 
     
     
         84 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the microorganism replicates by successive bipartition. 
     
     
         85 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the microorganism replicates by forming sporangia and releasing zoospores. 
     
     
         86 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the microorganism is  Thraustochytrium, Schizochytrium  or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         87 . The process  claim 74 , comprising culturing the microorganism at a temperature from about 5° C. to about 48° C. and a pH from about pH 5.0 to about pH 11.0. 
     
     
         88 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein a non-chloride source of sodium is sodium sulfate. 
     
     
         89 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein less than 25% of the sodium in the culture medium is supplied as sodium chloride. 
     
     
         90 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the microorganism has an average cell aggregate size less than about 150 microns in diameter. 
     
     
         91 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the microorganism has an average cell aggregate size less than about 100 microns in diameter. 
     
     
         92 . The process of  claim 74 , wherein the microorganism has an average cell aggregate size less than about 50 microns in diameter. 
     
     
         93 . The process of  claim 74 , further comprising the step of recovering fatty acids from the microorganism.