Amyris, Inc.
Methods for recovering water-immiscible isoprenoid compounds from microbial biomass

Abstract:

A method for recovering one or more water immiscible compounds comprising acidifying and disrupting the microbial biomass; heating the acidified, disrupted microbial biomass to form a heated, acidified disrupted microbial biomass; and contacting the heated, acidified, disrupted microbial biomass with a disulfonated surfactant in an amount sufficient to release at least 30% of the one or more water immiscible compounds from the microbial biomass.