Patent ID: 7662598

Claim:
A process for obtaining lipids from microorganisms comprising: (a) growing said microorganisms in a fermentation medium to produce a fermentation broth; (b) contacting said fermentation broth with a base to dissolve at least a part of any proteins present in said fermentation broth; (c) releasing intracellular lipids of cells of the microorganisms into the fermentation broth by lysing the cells, rupturing the cells, or permeabilizing the cells; (d) separating substances of different densities in the fermentation broth to produce a phase separated mixture comprising a heavy layer and a light layer, wherein said heavy layer comprises an aqueous solution and said light layer comprises emulsified lipids; (e) removing said heavy layer from said phase separated mixture; (f) adding an aqueous washing solution to said light layer; (g) separating substances of different densities from said mixture of step (f); (h) removing said heavy layer from said phase separated mixture; and (i) repeating said steps (f)-(h) until said lipid becomes substantially non-emulsified.