Systems and methods for extracting non-polar lipids from an aqueous algae slurry and lipids produced therefrom
AssigneeOriginoil, Inc.
InventorsNicholas Eckelberry, Michael Phillip Green, Scott Alexander Fraser
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for extracting non-polar lipids from microalgae are achieved using a lipid extraction device having an anode and a cathode that forms a channel and defines a fluid flow path through which an aqueous slurry is passed. An electromotive force is applied across the channel at a gap distance in a range from 0.5 mm to 200 mm to cause the non-polar lipids to be released from the algae cells. The non-polar lipids can be extracted at a high throughput rate and with low concentrations of polar lipids such as phospholipids and chlorophyll.
Claims18
A method for extracting non-polar lipids from microalgae in a flowing aqueous slurry, comprising:
- providing an aqueous slurry comprising microalgae;
- providing a lipid extraction apparatus having a body including a channel that defines a fluid flow path, wherein a cathode and an anode form at least a portion of the channel that defines the fluid flow path, the cathode and the anode being spaced apart to form a gap with a distance in a range from 0.5 mm to 200 mm within the channel;
- flowing the aqueous slurry through the channel and applying an electromotive force across the gap that compromises the microalgae cells and releases a lipid fraction having greater than 80 wt % non-polar lipids and less than 20 wt % polar lipids;
- and
- recovering at least a portion of the nonpolar lipid fraction.
A lipid extraction apparatus for extracting non-polar lipids from microalgae, comprising:
- a body including a channel that defines a fluid flow path from a first opening to a second opening, the first opening providing an inlet for an aqueous algae slurry and the second opening providing an outlet for the aqueous algae slurry;
- and
- a cathode, an anode, and an insulator forming at least a portion of the channel that defines the fluid flow path, the cathode and the anode being spaced apart to form a gap with a distance in a range from 0.5 mm to 100 mm, wherein a volume of the fluid flow path within the gap is at least 50 ml.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.