Method of extracting neutral lipids with two solvents
AssigneeHeliae Development, LLC
InventorAniket KALE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for separating neutral lipids from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting neutral lipids from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal neutral lipids from a wet algal biomass while avoiding emulsification of extraction mixtures. These neutral lipids are high value products which can be used to generate renewable fuels.
Claims23
A method of separating neutral lipids from intact algal cells, comprising:
- providing a wet algal biomass comprising intact algal cells which comprise proteins that are soluble in a mixture of an amphipathic solvent and water, polar lipids and neutral lipids;
- dewatering the wet algal biomass by removing extracellular water to increase the solid content of the wet algal biomass to between 5% and 50% to generate a partially dewatered wet algal biomass;
- mixing the partially dewatered wet algal biomass with an amphipathic solvent set in a ratio of about one part amphipathic solvent set to about one part wet algal biomass by weight, and a hydrophobic solvent set to generate an extraction mixture comprising a heavier phase and a lighter phase, wherein the heavier phase comprises the amphipathic solvent set, proteins that are soluble in a mixture of an amphipathic solvent and water, and partially dewatered wet algal biomass and the lighter phase comprises the hydrophobic solvent set and the neutral lipids;
- separating the lighter phase of the extraction mixture from the heavier phase of the extraction mixture;
- and
- separating the neutral lipids from the lighter phase to generate a neutral lipids fraction.
A method of separating neutral lipids from intact algal cells, comprising:
- providing a wet algal biomass comprising intact algal cells which comprise proteins that are soluble in a mixture of an amphipathic solvent and water, polar lipids and neutral lipids;
- mixing the wet algal biomass with an amphipathic solvent set in a ratio of about one part amphipathic solvent set to about one part wet algal biomass by weight, and a hydrophobic solvent set to generate an extraction mixture comprising a heavier phase and a lighter phase, wherein the heavier phase comprises the amphipathic solvent set, proteins that are soluble in a mixture of an amphipathic solvent and water, and wet algal biomass and the lighter phase comprises the hydrophobic solvent set and the neutral lipids;
- separating the lighter phase of the extraction mixture from the heavier phase of the extraction mixture;
- and
- separating the neutral lipids from the lighter phase to generate a neutral lipids fraction.
A method of separating neutral lipids from intact algal cells, comprising:
- providing a wet algal biomass comprising intact algal cells which comprise proteins that are soluble in a mixture of an amphipathic solvent and water, polar lipids and neutral lipids;
- dewatering the wet algal biomass by removing extracellular water to increase the solid content of the wet algal biomass to between 5% and 50% to generate a partially dewatered wet algal biomass;
- mixing the partially dewatered wet algal biomass with an amphipathic solvent set in a ratio of about one part amphipathic solvent set to about one part wet algal biomass by weight to generate a extraction mixture;
- mixing a hydrophobic solvent set with the extraction mixture to generate a heavier phase and a lighter phase, wherein the heavier phase comprises the amphipathic solvent set, proteins that are soluble in a mixture of an amphipathic solvent and water, and partially dewatered wet algal biomass, and the lighter phase comprises the first hydrophobic solvent set and the neutral lipids;
- separating the lighter phase of the extraction mixture from the heavier phase of the extraction mixture;
- and
- separating the neutral lipids from the lighter phase to generate a neutral lipids fraction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.