Methods of and systems for producing biofuels
First Claim
1. A method of making biofuels, comprising:
- a. dewatering intact algal cells to make a wet algal biomass comprised of intact algal cells;
b. combining the wet algal biomass with a first amphiphilic solvent set, the solvent set comprising one or more amphiphilic solvents, to make a first extraction mixture, wherein the weight of the amphiphilic solvent set is about the same as the weight of the wet algal biomass;
c. separating the first extraction mixture into a first liquid fraction comprising proteins and a first biomass fraction;
d. combining the first biomass fraction with a second amphiphilic solvent set to make a second extraction mixture, wherein the weight of the amphiphilic solvent set is about the same as the weight of the first biomass fraction;
e. separating the second extraction mixture into a second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids and a second biomass fraction;
f. combining the second biomass fraction with a third amphiphilic solvent set to make a third extraction mixture, wherein the weight of the amphiphilic solvent set is about the same as the weight of the second biomass fraction;
g. separating the third extraction mixture into a third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids and a third biomass fraction, wherein the first liquid fraction has a higher protein concentration than the second and third liquid fractions, the second liquid fraction has a higher polar lipids concentration than the first and third liquid fractions, and the third liquid fraction has a higher neutral lipids concentration than the first and second liquid fractions;
h. hydrolyzing the neutral lipids into fatty acids and glycerol;
i. hydrogenating and deoxygenating the fatty acids to form a fuel blend stock;
j. isomerizing the fuel blend stock to form a biofuel.
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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.
145 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of making biofuels, comprising:
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a. dewatering intact algal cells to make a wet algal biomass comprised of intact algal cells; b. combining the wet algal biomass with a first amphiphilic solvent set, the solvent set comprising one or more amphiphilic solvents, to make a first extraction mixture, wherein the weight of the amphiphilic solvent set is about the same as the weight of the wet algal biomass; c. separating the first extraction mixture into a first liquid fraction comprising proteins and a first biomass fraction; d. combining the first biomass fraction with a second amphiphilic solvent set to make a second extraction mixture, wherein the weight of the amphiphilic solvent set is about the same as the weight of the first biomass fraction; e. separating the second extraction mixture into a second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids and a second biomass fraction; f. combining the second biomass fraction with a third amphiphilic solvent set to make a third extraction mixture, wherein the weight of the amphiphilic solvent set is about the same as the weight of the second biomass fraction; g. separating the third extraction mixture into a third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids and a third biomass fraction, wherein the first liquid fraction has a higher protein concentration than the second and third liquid fractions, the second liquid fraction has a higher polar lipids concentration than the first and third liquid fractions, and the third liquid fraction has a higher neutral lipids concentration than the first and second liquid fractions; h. hydrolyzing the neutral lipids into fatty acids and glycerol; i. hydrogenating and deoxygenating the fatty acids to form a fuel blend stock; j. isomerizing the fuel blend stock to form a biofuel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification