# US 10,441,896 B2 · Method and apparatus for extraction of oil from plants

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- Number: US 10,441,896 B2
- Document ID: US10441896B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/881,001
- Filed: 2018-01-26
- Published: 2019-08-01
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-26
- Assignees: Nakatomi Trading, LLC
- Applicants: Nakatomi Trading, LLC
- Inventors: John C Naito; Kyler R Buck
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441896B2

## CPC

- B01D 3/10: Vacuum distillation (B01D3/12 takes precedence)
- B01D 3/106: {with the use of a pump for creating vacuum and for removing the distillate}
- B01D 3/40: Extractive distillation
- B01D 5/006: {with evaporation or distillation}
- B01D 11/02: of solids
- C11B 1/10: by extracting
- C11B 3/12: by distillation
- C11B 9/025: {Recovery by solvent extraction}
- C11B 9/027: {Recovery of volatiles by distillation or stripping}
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C11B: PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES (drying-oils C09F)

## Abstract

A plant oil extraction system is disclosed utilizing a novel dual vapor recovery scheme and pressure differentials and valve timing conducive to continuous operation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A distillation method in a system comprising a pump, the method comprising:
draining a solvent-oil mixture from a reaction chamber into a distillation column;
distilling the solvent-oil mixture in the distillation column;
triggering a dual vapor recovery process from the distillation column as a result of attaining a first pressure differential between the distillation column and any one of a plurality of solvent tanks, each of the solvent tanks coupled to provide solvent to the reaction chamber;
the dual vapor recovery process comprising:
(a) opening a first vapor valve between the distillation column and a condenser;
(b) opening a first solvent valve between the condenser and a first solvent tank meeting the first pressure differential;
(c) using the first pressure differential to move vapor out of a headspace of the distillation column into the condenser without the use of the pump;
(d) concurrently with (c) and on condition that the pump is not already in use to pump solvent:
selectively activating the pump and opening a second vapor valve between the distillation column and a second solvent tank;
pumping vapor from the headspace of the distillation column into the second solvent tank with the pump;
(e) while (c) and (d) are underway:
selectively opening a second solvent valve between the second solvent tank and the reaction chamber, once the pressure in the second solvent tank causes a second pressure differential sufficient to move solvent from the second solvent tank into the reaction chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The distillation method of claim 1 the first pressure differential being approximately 2 psi.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The distillation method of claim 1, further comprising, while (c) and (d) are underway:
switching the first solvent valve to the second solvent tank; and
switching the second vapor valve to the first solvent tank.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The distillation method of claim 3, further comprising:
triggering the switching of the first solvent valve and the second vapor valve based on an amount of accumulated liquid solvent in the solvent tanks and pressures and temperatures of each of the solvent tanks.