A refined oil comprising at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), wherein the oil has a fatty acid ester of monochloropropanediol, epoxypropanol, and mixtures thereof in an amount of 10 ppm or less, and processes for producing the oil. The oil is preferably a microbial or marine oil.

The present invention is directed to a process for obtaining a lipid from a cell, the process involving lysing a cell to form a lysed cell composition; optionally adding a salt to the lysed cell composition; sequentially, in one or more cycles, raising the pH of the lysed cell composition to 10 or above for a period of time, followed by lowering the pH of the lysed cell composition to a pH of less than 6 for a period of time to demulsify the cell composition; and separating a lipid from the demulsified cell composition.

The present invention is directed to a process for obtaining a lipid from a cell, the process involving lysing a cell to form a lysed cell composition; optionally adding a salt to the lysed cell composition; sequentially, in one or more cycles, raising the pH of the lysed cell composition to 10 or above for a period of time, followed by lowering the pH of the lysed cell composition to a pH of less than 6 for a period of time to demulsify the cell composition; and separating a lipid from the demulsified cell composition.

The present invention is directed to a process for obtaining a lipid from a composition comprising microbial cells, the process comprising: treating the composition comprising microbial cells to a temperature of about 60° C. to about 95° C. at a pH of about 9 to about 11; separating the treated microbial cells into a light phase and a heavy phase; sequentially, in one or more cycles, raising the pH of the concentrated microbial cell composition to 10 or above, followed by lowering the pH of the concentrated microbial cell composition to a pH of less than 6 to lyse the concentrated microbial cell composition, wherein the raising and lowering of the pH also demulsifies the concentrated microbial cell composition; separating the lipid from the demulsified cell composition, and recovering the lipid.

The present invention is directed to a process for obtaining a lipid from a composition comprising microbial cells, the process comprising: treating the composition comprising microbial cells to a temperature of about 60° C. to about 95° C. at a pH of about 9 to about 11; separating the treated microbial cells into a light phase and a heavy phase; sequentially, in one or more cycles, raising the pH of the concentrated microbial cell composition to 10 or above, followed by lowering the pH of the concentrated microbial cell composition to a pH of less than 6 to lyse the concentrated microbial cell composition, wherein the raising and lowering of the pH also demulsifies the concentrated microbial cell composition; separating the lipid from the demulsified cell composition, and recovering the lipid.

Compositions for increasing corn oil recovery and embodiments of methods for using the composition for corn oil separation are described. The composition(s) incorporate an admixture that includes a polymer selected from a polyglycol ester, a polyethyleneoxide-polypropyleneoxide block copolymer, a poloxamine, or a mixture thereof. The methods include admixing the compositions with a process stream for, for example, the extraction of oil from milled corn and residues from a fermentation step, including stillage (e.g., thin stillage or mid stillage), distiller's wet grain, distiller's dry grain and distiller's dry grains with solubles.

Compositions for increasing corn oil recovery and embodiments of methods for using the composition for corn oil separation are described. The composition(s) incorporate an admixture that includes a polymer selected from a polyglycol ester, a polyethyleneoxide-polypropyleneoxide block copolymer, a poloxamine, or a mixture thereof. The methods include admixing the compositions with a process stream for, for example, the extraction of oil from milled corn and residues from a fermentation step, including stillage (e.g., thin stillage or mid stillage), distiller's wet grain, distiller's dry grain and distiller's dry grains with solubles.

A method is provided for preventing or reducing the formation of monochloropropanediols (MCPDs) or monochloropropanediol esters (MCPDEs) in triacylglyceride oil, comprising the steps: (a) admixing the triacylglyceride oil with a liquid to form an admixture, wherein said liquid is selected from one or more of water, acid solution, base solution, phospholipid solution, 5 and surfactant solution; (b) optionally homogenizing the admixture; (c) performing one or more of the following steps 1. heating the admixture while homogenizing; and 2. heating the admixture; (d) cooling the admixture to under 100° C.; (e) optionally concentrating the insoluble and crystallized components from the admixture 1. by applying a centrifugational force to the admixture; and/or 2. by allowing insoluble and crystallized components in the admixture to 10 settle by gravity; (f) separating aqueous insoluble phase and crystallized components from the admixture and/or applying one or more processes to the admixture selected from degumming, physical refining, chemical refining, neutralization, interesterification, bleaching, dewaxing and fractionation. (g) applying heat treatment to the admixture.

A method is provided for preventing or reducing the formation of monochloropropanediols (MCPDs) or monochloropropanediol esters (MCPDEs) in triacylglyceride oil, comprising the steps: (a) admixing the triacylglyceride oil with a liquid to form an admixture, wherein said liquid is selected from one or more of water, acid solution, base solution, phospholipid solution, 5 and surfactant solution; (b) optionally homogenizing the admixture; (c) performing one or more of the following steps 1. heating the admixture while homogenizing; and 2. heating the admixture; (d) cooling the admixture to under 100° C.; (e) optionally concentrating the insoluble and crystallized components from the admixture 1. by applying a centrifugational force to the admixture; and/or 2. by allowing insoluble and crystallized components in the admixture to 10 settle by gravity; (f) separating aqueous insoluble phase and crystallized components from the admixture and/or applying one or more processes to the admixture selected from degumming, physical refining, chemical refining, neutralization, interesterification, bleaching, dewaxing and fractionation. (g) applying heat treatment to the admixture.

A method is provided for preventing or reducing the formation of monochloropropanediols (MCPDs) or monochloropropanediol esters (MCPDEs) in triacylglyceride oil, comprising the steps: (a) concentrating insoluble components in liquid triacylglyceride oil by (i) applying a 5 centrifugational force on the triacylglyceride oil whilst maintaining the triacylglyceride oil above its melting temperature; and/or (ii) allowing the insoluble components to settle by gravitational force whilst maintaining the triacylglyceride oil above its melting temperature; (b) separating the triacylglyceride oil from the insoluble components; (c) optionally applying additional refining steps and (d) applying heat treatment to the triacylglyceride oil. A purified 10 triacylglyceride oil obtainable by the method of the invention is also provided.