Methods of and systems for producing biofuels from algal oil
First Claim
1. A method of making biofuels, comprising:
- a. dewatering an algal cell culture comprising intact algal cells to generate a wet algal biomass;
b. adding a first ethanol fraction to the wet algal biomass in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part algal biomass by weight to generate first solid biomass fraction and a first liquid fraction comprising proteins;
c. separating the first solid biomass fraction from the first liquid fraction comprising proteins;
d. combining the first solid biomass fraction with a second ethanol fraction in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part solid biomass by weight to generate a second solid biomass fraction from a second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids;
e. separating the second solid biomass fraction from the second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids;
f. combining the second solid biomass fraction with a third ethanol solvent fraction in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part solid biomass by weight to generate a third solid biomass fraction from a third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids, wherein the third solid biomass fraction comprises carbohydrates and the third solid biomass fraction comprises intact algal cells;
g. separating the third solid biomass fraction from a third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids, 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. simultaneously transesterifying and esterifying the neutral lipids with an enzyme catalyst in the presence of an alcohol to produce a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin and a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters;
i. separating the water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from the water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters;
j. 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;
k. hydrodeoxygenating 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.
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Abstract
A method for producing biofuels is provided that includes dewatering 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 hydrodeoxygenating 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. The method further includes supplying the hydrogenation and deoxygenation processes with hydrogen produced from reformed light hydrocarbons or an algae culture.
162 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of making biofuels, comprising:
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a. dewatering an algal cell culture comprising intact algal cells to generate a wet algal biomass; b. adding a first ethanol fraction to the wet algal biomass in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part algal biomass by weight to generate first solid biomass fraction and a first liquid fraction comprising proteins; c. separating the first solid biomass fraction from the first liquid fraction comprising proteins; d. combining the first solid biomass fraction with a second ethanol fraction in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part solid biomass by weight to generate a second solid biomass fraction from a second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids; e. separating the second solid biomass fraction from the second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids; f. combining the second solid biomass fraction with a third ethanol solvent fraction in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part solid biomass by weight to generate a third solid biomass fraction from a third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids, wherein the third solid biomass fraction comprises carbohydrates and the third solid biomass fraction comprises intact algal cells; g. separating the third solid biomass fraction from a third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids, 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. simultaneously transesterifying and esterifying the neutral lipids with an enzyme catalyst in the presence of an alcohol to produce a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin and a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters; i. separating the water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from the water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters; j. 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; k. hydrodeoxygenating 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of making biofuels, comprising:
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a. dewatering an algal cell culture comprising intact algal cells to generate a wet algal biomass; b. adding a first ethanol fraction to the wet algal biomass in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part algal biomass by weight to generate a first solid biomass fraction from a first liquid fraction comprising proteins; c. separating the first solid biomass fraction from the first liquid fraction comprising proteins; d. combining the first solid biomass fraction with a second ethanol fraction in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part solid biomass by weight to generate a second solid biomass fraction from a second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids; e. separating the second solid biomass fraction from the second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids; f. combining the second solid biomass fraction with a third ethanol solvent fraction in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part solid biomass by weight to generate a third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids, and a third solid biomass fraction comprising carbohydrates and intact algal cells; g. separating the third solid biomass fraction from the third liquid 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. esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol; i. separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters; j. 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; k. hydrodeoxygenating 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, wherein light hydrocarbons are produced by the hydrodeoxygenating processes; and l. reforming the light hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method of making biofuels, comprising:
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a. dewatering intact algal cells of a first algal strain to make an algal biomass; b. adding a first ethanol fraction to the algal biomass in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part algal biomass by weight to generate a first solid biomass fraction from a first liquid fraction comprising proteins; c. separating the first solid biomass fraction from the first liquid fraction comprising proteins; d. combining the first solid biomass fraction with a second ethanol fraction in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part solid biomass by weight to produce a second solid biomass fraction from a second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids; e. separating the second solid biomass fraction from the second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids; f. combining the second solid biomass fraction with a third ethanol solvent fraction in a ratio of about 1 part ethanol to about 1 part solid biomass by weight to generate a third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids and a third solid biomass fraction comprising carbohydrates and intact algal cells; g. separating the third solid biomass fraction from the third liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids, 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. esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol to produce a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin and a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters; i. separating the water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from the water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters; j. 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; k. culturing a second strain of algae in conditions sufficient to produce hydrogen; l. capturing the produced hydrogen and supplying the hydrogen to hydrodeoxygenating processes; and m. hydrodeoxygenating 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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification