Method for Producing Oil Composition via Biomass Fermentation

ChangeBridge: Patent Apps - Biotech (C12N)

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

The USPTO has published a patent application detailing a method for producing an oil composition through the fermentation of biomass using specific yeast strains. The application outlines a preparation stage, a fermentation stage with controlled temperature and pH, and an oil procurement stage involving mechanical cell lysis.

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What changed

This document is a published patent application (US20260085335A1) from the USPTO, detailing a novel method for producing an oil composition from biomass via fermentation. The method involves specific growth medium compositions, inoculation with selected yeast species (Yarrowia lipolytica, Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginous), controlled fermentation temperatures (10-40°C) until a target cell density is reached, and mechanical cell lysis to extract yeast oil. The application specifies parameters for dry matter, carbon and nitrogen sources, magnesium, and pH during preparation, and notes that pH is not controlled during fermentation.

While this is a patent application and not a regulatory rule, it signifies potential future developments in biotechnology and industrial processes. Companies involved in bio-based oil production, fermentation, or yeast cultivation should review this application for insights into novel methodologies and potential intellectual property. There are no immediate compliance obligations associated with a patent application, but it may inform future R&D strategies and product development within the pharmaceutical, food manufacturing, and biotechnology sectors.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Applications

PROVIDING AN OIL COMPOSITION THROUGH FERMENTATION OF BIOMASS WITH A YEAST

Application US20260085335A1 Kind: A1 Mar 26, 2026

Inventors

Jeroen HUGENHOLTZ, Rudolf Marcel VELOO, Kirsten Cornelia Adriana DEKKERS, Maria TWIGT

Abstract

The invention provides a method for producing an oil composition (100) from biomass (200), wherein the method comprises: a preparation stage (11) comprising providing a growth medium (300), wherein the growth medium (300) comprises the biomass (200), wherein the growth medium (300) comprises 1-10 wt % dry matter, 0.02-30 wt % of a carbon source, 0.01-5 wt % of a nitrogen source, 0.00001-0.05 wt. % of a magnesium source, and wherein the growth medium (300) has a pH selected from the range of 3.0-8.0, wherein the biomass (200) comprises a non-pasteurized biomass (220); a fermentation stage (12) comprising (a) inoculating the growth medium (300) with a yeast cell (400), thereby providing an cell suspension (500), and (b) controlling a temperature of the cell suspension (500) in the range of 10-40° C., wherein the yeast cell (400) is selected from the species Yarrowia lipolytica, and Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginous, and wherein the fermentation stage is continued until the cell suspension (500) reaches a cell density selected from the range of 1E8-1E10 cells/ml, wherein the pH of the cell suspension (500) is not controlled during the fermentation stage (12); an oil procurement stage (15) comprising separating a yeast oil (110) from the cell suspension (500) to provide the oil composition (100), wherein the oil procurement stage comprises mechanically lysing the cell suspension (500) to provide a lysed cell suspension (600), wherein the mechanical lysing (610) comprises one or more of screw-pressing (630), bead beating, French pressing and homogenizing.