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US 11,230,613 B2Granted
Rubber and by-product extraction systems and methods
AssigneeKultevat, Inc.
InventorsAnthony Nocera, Jr., Daniel R. Swiger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for extracting useful by-products and natural rubber from non-Hevea rubber bearing plants are disclosed.
Claims18
A processing system for obtaining a rubber containing fraction from a rubber bearing plant comprising:
- (a) a first extraction system adapted and configured:
- to receive biomass from the plant or parts thereof and a liquid solvent comprising water, an aqueous solution, or a combination thereof;
- to mix the biomass and liquid solvent at a temperature of at least about 50° C. in a manner such that the first extraction system generates a carbohydrate-containing liquid and a carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids;
- and to separate the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids from the carbohydrate-containing liquid;
- wherein the rubber bearing plant is of the genus Taraxacum or is another non-Hevea plant;
- (b) a second extraction system adapted and configured:
- to receive the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids from the first extraction system and an organic polar solvent;
- to mix the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids with the organic polar solvent in a manner such that the second extraction system generates a liquid polar organics fraction and polar compound-depleted biomass solids;
- and to separate the liquid polar organics fraction and polar compound-depleted biomass solids;
- and
- (c) a third extraction system adapted and configured to:
- receive the polar compound-depleted biomass solids from the second extraction system and a non-polar organic solvent;
- to mix the polar compound-depleted biomass solids with the non-polar organic solvent in a manner such that the third extraction system generates a rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids;
- and to separate the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids;
- wherein at least one of the first, second, or third extraction systems comprises a plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages arranged in fluid communication with each other in series such that effluent from one continuous stirred tank extraction stage flows to a next continuous stirred extraction stage in the series of the plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages of each extraction system, at least one of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages in each extraction system having an inlet adapted and configured to receive the solvent and an inlet adapted and configured to receive the biomass or the solids, the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage is adapted and configured to mix and form a homogeneous slurry, the homogeneous slurry corresponding to the solvent and solid of the respective extraction system and the effluent of the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage, and each extraction system further comprising a solid-liquid separator arranged in fluid communication with a last in series of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages of the respective extraction system and adapted to receive the effluent therefrom, wherein the solid-liquid separator is adapted and configured to separate the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids, polar compound-depleted biomass solids, or spent biomass solids from the carbohydrate-containing liquid, the liquid polar organics fraction, or the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction.
12 more elements
A processing system for obtaining a rubber containing fraction from a rubber bearing plant comprising:
- (a) a first extraction system adapted and configured:
- to receive biomass from the plant or parts thereof and an organic polar solvent;
- to mix the biomass with an organic polar solvent in a manner such that the second extraction system generates a liquid polar organics fraction and polar compound-depleted biomass solids;
- and to separate the liquid polar organics fraction and polar compound-depleted biomass solids;
- and
- (b) a second extraction system adapted and configured to:
- receive the polar compound-depleted biomass solids from the first extraction system and a non-polar organic solvent;
- to mix the polar compound-depleted biomass solids with the non-polar organic solvent in a manner such that the second extraction system generates a rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids;
- and to separate the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids;
- wherein at least one of the first or second extraction systems comprises a plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages arranged in fluid communication with each other in series such that effluent from one continuous stirred tank extraction stage flows to a next continuous stirred extraction stage in the series of the plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages of each extraction system, at least one of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages in each extraction system having an inlet adapted and configured to receive the solvent and an inlet adapted and configured to receive the biomass or the solids, the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage being adapted and configured to mix and form a homogeneous slurry, the homogeneous slurry corresponding to the solvent and solid of the respective extraction system and the effluent of the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage, and each extraction system further comprising a solid-liquid separator arranged in fluid communication with a last in series of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages of the respective extraction system and adapted to receive the effluent therefrom, wherein the solid-liquid separator is adapted and configured to separate the polar compound-depleted biomass solids or spent biomass solids from the liquid polar organics fraction or the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction.
7 more elements
A method for extracting a rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction from a rubber bearing plant, the method comprising:
- (a) introducing into a first extraction system biomass from the plant or parts thereof and an organic polar solvent;
- mixing the biomass with the organic polar solvent to generate a liquid polar organics fraction and polar compound-depleted biomass solids, and separating the liquid polar organics fraction and polar compound-depleted biomass solids;
- wherein the rubber bearing plant is of the genus Taraxacum or is another non-Hevea plant;
- (b) introducing into a second extraction system the polar compound-depleted biomass solids from the first extraction system and a non-polar organic solvent;
- mixing the polar compound-depleted biomass solids with the non-polar organic solvent to generate a rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids;
- and separating the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids;
- wherein at least one of the first or second extraction systems comprises a plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages arranged in fluid communication with each other in series such that effluent from one continuous stirred tank extraction stage flows to a next continuous stirred extraction stage in the series of the plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages of each extraction system, at least one of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages in each extraction system having an inlet adapted and configured to receive the solvent and an inlet adapted and configured to receive the biomass or the solids, the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage being adapted and configured to mix and form a homogeneous slurry, the homogeneous slurry corresponding to the solvent and solid of the respective extraction system and the effluent of the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage, and each extraction system further comprising a solid-liquid separator arranged in fluid communication with a last in series of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages of the respective extraction system and adapted to receive the effluent therefrom, wherein the solid-liquid separator is adapted and configured to separate polar compound-depleted biomass solids or spent biomass solids from the liquid polar organics fraction, or the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.