Process for ambient temperature fractionation and extraction of various biomasses
AssigneeGreen Extraction Technologies
InventorMelvin Mitchell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a process for fractionating biomass into its individual components. The process includes pretreating a biomass which may include mechanically altering the fibers and/or contacting the biomass with a solvent to provide a fluidized biomass. The pretreated fluidized biomass may be subjected to high frequency pulses and shear forces without denaturing one or more components of the biomass to provide a first liquid fraction and a first fractionated biomass. The first liquid fraction may then be isolated or separated from the first fractionated biomass. The biomass may be separated, isolated or purified into lignin, extractives for use in pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals, cellulose, hemicellulose, and other sugars and proteins.
Claims30
A process for fractionating biomass into one or more components of the biomass, the process comprising:
- a) pretreating the biomass to provide a fluidized biomass;
- b) subjecting the pretreated fluidized biomass to simultaneous high frequency pulses and shear forces without denaturing one or more components of the biomass to provide a first liquid fraction and a first fractionated biomass, wherein the high frequency pulses pulse the biomass between about 900 and about 1900 times over the period of about 1.5-3.0 seconds;
- and
- c) isolating the first liquid fraction from the first fractionated biomass.
A process for fractionating biomass into one or more components of the biomass comprising:
- a) mechanically altering the fibers of the biomass and optionally contacting the biomass with a solvent to provide a fluidized biomass;
- b) subjecting the fluidized biomass to simultaneous high frequency pulses and shear forces without denaturing one or more components of the biomass to provide a first liquid fraction and a first fractionated biomass, wherein the high frequency pulses pulse the biomass between about 900 and about 1900 times over the period of about 1.5-3.0 seconds;
- and
- c) isolating the first liquid fraction from the first fractionated biomass.
A process for extracting biomass, the process comprising:
- a) pretreating the biomass to provide a fluidized biomass;
- b) contacting the fluidized biomass with a solvent;
- c) subjecting the fluidized biomass contacted with the solvent to simultaneous high frequency pulses and to shear forces without denaturing one or more components of the biomass to provide a first extract and an extracted biomass, wherein the high frequency pulses pulse the biomass between about 900 and about 1900 times over the period of about 1.5-3.0 seconds;
- d) subjecting the extracted biomass to a crushing force while in contact with additional solvent to provide a second extract separated from the previously extracted biomass;
- and
- e) combining the first extract and the second extract together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.