Patent ID: 8288133

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