Patent Title: Low Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Oils and Uses Thereof

 Number/Link: US20160194584

Applicant/Assignee: Solazyme

Publication date: 7-07-2016

“Gist”: Natural oil polyols from genetically modified organisms

Why it is interesting: Natural oils usually contain significant (and variable) amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, i.e. fatty acids with more than one double bond in the backbone. Soybean oil for example contains up to 60% PUFAs that can easily engage in side reactions like autooxidation and polymerization, resulting in side products that contaminate the oil – and therefore the polyols derived from them.  According to this (299 page) application, oils containing >85% oleic acid and very low PUFA concentration can be made from certain genetically modified microalgae. Polyols derived from these oils by hydroxylation can be used to prepare polyurethane foams with reduced discolorouration, reduced odour, improved reproducibility and improved physical properties as compared to foams based on conventional NOPs.

Trigliceride with PUFA