Biomass Hydrolysate and Uses and Production Thereof

Abstract

The present invention includes a palatable, stable composition comprising a biomass hydrolysate emulsion for incorporation, into, or used as, nutritional products, cosmetic products or pharmaceutical products. Preferred sources for biomass are microbial sources, plant sources and animal sources. The present invention also provides methods for making such compositions, specifically, a method for producing a product comprising a nutrient, particularly a long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, comprising hydrolyzing a biomass comprising the nutrient and emulsifying the hydrolyzed biomass. Such compositions and methods are useful, for example, for increasing intake of nutrients such as omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids having 18 or more carbons.

1 . A method for producing a product comprising a nutrient, said method comprising:
 a) hydrolyzing a biomass comprising the nutrient biomass; and   b) emulsifying the hydrolyzed biomass to form a stable product.   
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the product is dried. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the biomass or the hydrolyzed biomass is dried by a method selected from the group consisting of membrane filter press drying, spray drying, fluidized bed drying, lyophilization, freeze drying, tray drying, vacuum tray drying, drum drying, vacuum mixer/reactor drying, excipient drying, solvent drying, fluidized spray drying, conveyer drying, ultrafiltration, evaporation, osmotic dehydration, freezing, absorbent addition, extrusion and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the product is extruded. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method additionally comprises the step of adding a stabilizing agent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of microencapsulants, surfactants, emulsion stabilizers and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of hydrolyzing the biomass is enzymatic hydrolysis. 
     
     
         16 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of hydrolyzing the biomass is chemical disruption. 
     
     
         19 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of hydrolyzing the biomass is physical-non-mechanical cell disruption. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising introducing browning reaction products to the hydrolyzed biomass. 
     
     
         27 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of emulsifying is selected from the group consisting of mechanical agitation, ultrasonic vibration, heating, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the biomass comprises a microorganism selected from the group consisting of algae, protists, bacteria and fungi. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of microorganisms of the genus Thraustochytrium, microorganisms of the genus Schizochytrium, microorganisms of the genus Althornia, microorganisms of the genus Aplanochytrium, microorganisms of the genus  Japonochytrium,  microorganisms of the genus  Elina,  microorganisms of the genus  Crypthecodinium,  microorganisms of the genus  Mortierella  and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         35 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nutrient comprises an LC PUFA. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nutrient comprises an LC PUFA having a carbon chain length of at least 18. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the LC PUFA has a carbon chain length of at least 22. 
     
     
         44 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the LC PUFA comprises docosahexaenoic acid. 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the LC PUFA comprises arachidonic acid. 
     
     
         49 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a liquid emulsion. 
     
     
         52 - 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . A stable emulsion comprising an emulsified hydrolyzed biomass. 
     
     
         65 - 123 . (canceled)