Oleaginous material extraction using alcohol solvent

Abstract

An oil extraction process may be performed on an oleaginous feedstock using an alcohol-based solvent, such as ethanol. In some examples, an extraction process involves conveying a material in countercurrent direction with an alcohol-based solvent to generate an extracted material and a miscella. The miscella stream is cooled to form a first solvent-rich layer phase separated from a first oil-rich layer, which is then separated to form a first separated oil-rich stream and a first separated solvent-rich stream. In some examples, the first separated solvent-rich stream is recycled back to the extractor and introduced into the extractor at a location different than a location where fresh solvent is introduced into the extractor. Additionally or alternatively, water may be introduced into the separated first oil-rich stream to form a second solvent-rich layer phase separated from a second oil-rich layer, which is then separated to form a second separated oil-rich stream.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.