Methods of and Systems for Producing Diesel Blend Stocks

• US 20120021091A1
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC (PT Perusahaan Perkebunan London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk)
• Original Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC (PT Perusahaan Perkebunan London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk)
• Inventors: Kale, Aniket
• Granted Patent: US 8,741,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/00 Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 11/04 of solutions which are liquid
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 1/10 by extracting
• CPC Class Codes: C11B 1/108 after-treatment, e.g. of miscellae
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.

Claims

1. A method of making biofuels, comprising:

a. dewatering intact algal cells to make an algal biomass;

b. extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass;

c. esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol;

d. separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters;

e. distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids; and

f. hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the biomass during step b to a temperature below the boiling point of the solvent set at the conditions present during said step b.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the biomass under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure during step b.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising recycling the residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids into an animal feed, a human food or a nutraceutical product.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising growing the algal cells to produce neutral lipids by providing carbon dioxide to the algal cells as a carbon source.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising growing the algal cells to produce the neutral lipids during bioremediation of wastewater by the algal cells.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the bioremediation is integrated into a wastewater treatment plant.