Method for recovering pigments from algal cultures
AssigneeBeta Carotene Investments Limited
InventorPeter James Keating
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Abstract
A method and apparatus (101) for the recovery of fat soluble compounds, such as beta carotene, is described. In one embodiment of the invention a solution (102) containing a fat soluble compound is passed through a fluidised bed (104) of crystalline metallic ore particles, such as magnetite, allowing the fat soluble compound to bind to the particles to form a complex (109). The fat soluble compound is released from the complex (109) by passing a wash solution (107) through the fluidised bed and subsequently collected in solution (108). The crystalline metallic ore particles may be reused.
Claims23
A method of extracting fat-soluble compounds from aqueous solutions comprising the steps of:
- providing an aqueous solution in which a fat-soluble compound is present;
- providing a bed of crystalline metallic ore particles held in a vessel;
- applying the aqueous solution to the bed of crystalline metallic ore particles substantially near the bottom of the bed at a rate sufficient to form and maintain a fluidized bed of crystalline metallic ore particles,
- wherein the fat-soluble compound is absorbed or adsorbed by the crystalline metallic ore particles to form crystalline-metallic-ore-fat-soluble-compound complex particles,
- wherein the bulk density of the particulate crystalline-metallic-ore-fat-soluble-compound complex is less than that of the particulate metallic ore, and
- wherein the fluidized bed forms an upper and a lower zone, the lower zone substantially comprising crystalline metallic ore particles and the upper zone substantially comprising crystalline-metallic-ore-fat-soluble-compound complex particles;
- collecting the crystalline-metallic-ore-fat-soluble-compound complex particles from the upper zone of the fluidized bed;
- providing a wash solution;
- contacting the wash solution with the crystalline-metallic-ore-fat-soluble-compound complex particles to desorb the fat-soluble compound;
- collecting the wash solution containing the fat-soluble compound;
- and
- isolating the fat-soluble compound from the wash solution.
A method of extracting fat-soluble compounds selected from the group consisting of beta carotene, alpha carotene, lutene, lutene monoepoxide, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin and lycopene from aqueous solutions containing D. salina cells comprising the steps of:
- providing an aqueous solution containing D. salina cells in which said fat-soluble compound is present;
- providing a bed of crystalline metallic ore particles held in a vessel;
- applying the aqueous solution containing the D. salina cells to the bed of crystalline metallic ore particles substantially near the bottom of the bed at a rate sufficient to form and maintain a fluidized bed of crystalline metallic ore particles so that the D. salina cells are ruptured to release said fat-soluble compound,
- wherein said fat-soluble compound is absorbed or adsorbed by the crystalline metallic ore particles to form crystalline-metallic-ore-fat-soluble compound complex particles,
- wherein the bulk density of the said complex is less than that of the particulate metallic ore, and
- wherein the fluidized bed forms an upper and a lower zone, the lower zone substantially comprising crystalline metallic ore particles and the upper zone substantially comprising said complex particles;
- collecting said complex particles from the upper zone of the fluidized bed;
- providing a wash solution;
- contacting the wash solution with said complex particles to desorb the fat-soluble compound;
- collecting the wash solution containing the fat-soluble compound;
- and
- isolating the fat-soluble compound from the wash solution.
A method of extracting beta carotene from aqueous solutions containing D. salina cells comprising the steps of:
- providing an aqueous solution containing D. salina cells in which the beta carotene is present;
- providing a bed of crystalline metallic ore particles held in a vessel;
- applying the aqueous solution containing the D. salina cells to the bed of crystalline metallic ore particles substantially near the bottom of the bed at a rate sufficient to form and maintain a fluidized bed of crystalline metallic ore particles such that the D. salina cells are ruptured to release the beta carotene,
- wherein the beta carotene is absorbed or adsorbed by the crystalline metallic ore particles to form crystalline-metallic-ore-beta carotene complex particles,
- wherein the bulk density of the particulate crystalline-metallic-ore-beta carotene complex is less than that of the particulate metallic ore, and
- wherein the fluidized bed forms an upper and a lower zone, the lower zone substantially comprising crystalline metallic ore particles and the upper zone substantially comprising crystalline-metallic-ore-beta carotene complex particles;
- collecting the crystalline-metallic-ore-beta carotene complex particles from the upper zone of the fluidized bed;
- providing a wash solution;
- contacting the wash solution with the crystalline-metallic-ore-beta carotene complex particles to desorb the beta carotene;
- collecting the wash solution containing the beta carotene;
- and
- isolating the beta carotene from the wash solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.