Process of producing oil from algae using biological rupturing

Abstract

A process for production of biofuels from algae can include cultivating an oil-producing algae, extracting the algal oil, and converting the algal oil to form biodiesel. Extracting the algal oil from the oil-producing algae can include biologically rupturing cell wall and oil vesicles of the oil-producing algae using at least one enzyme such as a cellulose or glycoproteinase, a structured enzyme system such as a cellulosome, a virus, or combination of these materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for production of oil from algae, comprising:
 introducing a biological agent capable of biologically rupturing a cell wall and oil vesicles of an oil-producing algae into the oil-producing algae to release oil therefrom; and   allowing the agent to rupture the algae and release the oil.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising cultivating an oil-producing algae prior to introduction of the biological agent. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein cultivating an oil-producing algae includes promoting both autotrophic and heterotrophic growth. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the heterotrophic growth is initiated using a stress induction mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the stress induction mechanism includes at least one of light deprivation, nutrient deprivation, injection of a reactive oxygen source, and chemical additives. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the step of cultivating further includes introducing a biological agent which specifically targets only foreign strains of algae. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising converting the algal oil to biodiesel. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein the conversion of the algal oil to biodiesel includes transesterifying the algal oil. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion of algal oil to biodiesel includes direct hydrogenation of the algal oil. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising collecting the algal oil. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the biological agent includes a virus, a cellulase, a glycoproteinase, or cellulosome. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the algae has an algae oil content of greater than about 20%. 
     
     
         13 . A process for production of oil from algae, comprising:
 a) cultivating an oil-producing algae selected from the group consisting of diatoms, green algae, blue-green algae, golden-brown algae, haptophytes, and mixtures thereof; and   b) extracting an algal oil from the oil-producing algae by biologically rupturing cell wall and oil vesicles of the oil-producing algae using a biological agent.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , further comprising collecting the algal oil. 
     
     
         15 . A system for production of oil from algae, comprising:
 a) algae growth reservoirs including a carbon dioxide source and a mixing mechanism configured to circulate an oil-producing algae within the algae growth reservoirs;   b) an oil extraction bioreactor operatively connected to the algae growth reservoirs and configured for biologically rupturing algal oil vesicles of the oil-producing algae to form an algal oil and algal residue; and   c) a biological agent source operatively connected to the oil extraction bioreactor, said agent source including a biological agent that is capable of rupturing a cell wall and oil vesicles of the oil-producing algae.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the biological agent comprises a virus, a cellulase, a glycoproteinase, or cellulosome. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the biological agent comprises a mixture of a virus, a cellulase, a glycoproteinase, or cellulosome. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a conversion reactor operatively connected to the oil extraction bioreactor to convert at least a portion of the algal oil to a biodiesel by direct hydrogenation or by transesterification of the algal oil. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the conversion reactor is configured to convert at least a portion of the algal oil to a biodiesel by direct hydrogenation of the algal oil. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the conversion reactor is configured to convert at least a portion of the algal oil to a biodiesel by transesterification of the algal oil.