Method and Apparatus Using an Active Ionic Liquid for Algae Biofuel Harvest and Extraction
First Claim
1. A method for extracting material from algae cells comprising contacting the algae cells to a first liquid selected from a group consisting of a pure ionic liquid and an active ionic liquid.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to use of an active ionic liquid to dissolve algae cell walls. The ionic liquid is used to, in an energy efficient manner, dissolve and/or lyse an algae cell walls, which releases algae constituents used in the creation of energy, fuel, and/or cosmetic components. The ionic liquids include ionic salts having multiple charge centers, low, very low, and ultra low melting point ionic liquids, and combinations of ionic liquids.An algae treatment system is described, which processes wet algae in a lysing reactor, separates out algae constituent products, and optionally recovers the ionic liquid in an energy efficient manner.
-
Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A method for extracting material from algae cells comprising contacting the algae cells to a first liquid selected from a group consisting of a pure ionic liquid and an active ionic liquid.
-
10. A method for processing algae cells comprising,
introducing a suspension of algae cells into a lysing reactor containing a first liquid selected from a group consisting of a pure ionic liquid and an active ionic liquid, forming within the reactor a lysed solution containing the first liquid, water and algae cell-derived materials including triacylglycerides, free fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins, and/or cellulose, and separating the lysed solution into at least two layers including an upper layer and a lower layer.
Specification