Patent ID: 8124384

Claim:
A process for growing microorganisms of the order Thraustochytriales by conducting a fermentation of the microorganisms in a fermentation medium comprising a carbon source and a limiting nutrient source, the process comprising: a) providing the fermentation medium comprising the carbon source and the limiting nutrient source; b) adding the microorganisms to the fermentation medium; c) adding an additional amount of the carbon source and limiting nutrient source to the fermentation medium to increase the biomass density of the fermentation medium to at least about 100 g/L on a dry cell weight basis, wherein the additional amount of the carbon source and the limiting nutrient source are added at a rate sufficient to increase the biomass density of the fermentation medium to at least 100 g/L; d) adding an additional amount of the carbon source while limiting the amount of limiting nutrient source added to the formulation medium to induce lipid production by the microorganisms; and e) recovering at least some of the lipids from the microorganisms; wherein the primary use of the carbon source by the microorganisms is to produce lipids after induction of lipid production, wherein the microorganisms produce lipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids when the biomass density is at least 100 g/L on a dry cell weight basis, and wherein the microorganisms produce at least 20% by weight of the dry cell weight of the biomass as lipids.