Extraction and fractionation of biopolymers and resins from plant materials
AssigneeYulex Corporation
InventorsKatrina Cornish, Jeffrey A. Martin, Rodger T. Marentis, Sebastian Plamthottam
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Abstract
A method for the extraction, separation, fractionation and purification of biopolymers from plant materials using supercritical and/or subcritical solvent extractions is disclosed. Specifically, the process can be used for the separation of resins and rubber from guayule shrub (Parthenium argentatum), and other rubber and/or resin containing plant materials, using supercritical solvent extraction, for example supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. Additionally, polar and/or non-polar co-solvents can be used with supercritical carbon dioxide to enhance the selective extraction of resins and rubbers from the shrub.
Claims38
A method for removing a non-resin biopolymer from plant material, comprising:
- contacting plant material with a compressed gas solvent compressed from about 1,500 psi to about 10,000 psi, wherein the temperature and pressure of the solvent are at supercritical conditions;
- maintaining the supercritical conditions for a sufficient time, wherein the biopolymer solubilizes with the solvent forming a supercritical solution;
- and
- extracting the biopolymer by percolation of the supercritical solution through a bed of the plant material and wherein the plant material is guayule.
A method for removing a non-resin biopolymer from plant material, comprising:
- contacting plant material with a compressed gas solvent compressed from about 1,500 psi to about 10,000 psi, wherein the temperature and pressure of the solvent are at supercritical conditions;
- maintaining the supercritical conditions for a sufficient time, wherein the biopolymer solubilizes with the solvent forming a supercritical solution;
- and
- extracting the biopolymer by percolation of the supercritical solution through a bed of the plant material and wherein the biopolymer is rubber.
A method for removing a biopolymer from plant material, comprising:
- contacting plant material with a compressed gas solvent compressed from about 1,500 psi to about 10,000 psi, wherein the temperature and pressure of the solvent are at subcritical liquid conditions;
- maintaining the subcritical liquid conditions for a sufficient time, wherein the biopolymer and the solvent form a subcritical liquid solvent solution;
- and
- extracting the biopolymer by percolation of the subcritical liquid solvent solution through a bed of the plant material and wherein the plant material is guayule.
A method for removing a biopolymer from plant material, comprising:
- contacting plant material with a compressed gas solvent compressed from about 1,500 psi to about 10,000 psi, wherein the temperature and pressure of the solvent are at subcritical liquid conditions;
- maintaining the subcritical liquid conditions for a sufficient time, wherein the biopolymer and the solvent form a subcritical liquid solvent solution;
- and
- extracting the biopolymer by percolation of the subcritical liquid solvent solution through a bed of the plant material and wherein the biopolymer is rubber.
A method for removing a non-polar rubber and a polar resin from guayule, comprising:
- contacting guayule with carbon dioxide in an extraction vessel, wherein the temperature in the extraction vessel is between 60 and 100 degrees centigrade and the pressure in the extraction vessel is between 5,000 and 10,000 psi;
- further contacting the guayule with a co-solvent in the extraction vessel, wherein the contact with the co-solvent occurs at approximately the same time as the contact with the carbon dioxide;
- and
- extracting the rubber and resin by percolation of a formed supercritical solution through a bed of guayule, to form a rubber-resin extraction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.