Patent ID: 8580540

Claim:
A method of extracting a lipid from recombinant Prototheca cells, the method comprising the steps of: (a) lysing recombinant Prototheca cells to produce a lysate, wherein the recombinant Prototheca cells : (i) have not been subjected to a drying step between culturing and lysing; and (ii) comprise at least 10% lipid by dry weight, and wherein the fatty acid profile of the lipid is at least 10% C8-C14; (b) treating the lysate with an organic solvent for a period of time, wherein the organic solvent is methanol; (c) separating the treated lysate into layers comprising a lipid layer and an aqueous layer and, optionally, a lipid:aqueous emulsion layer, and/or a cell pellet; and (d) removing the lipid from the other layer(s).