Methods of extracting algae components for diesel blend stock production utilizing alcohols

• US 8,323,501 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US13/475,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20120232144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 200 Days
• Field of Search: 210/602, 210/610, 210/632, 210/33, 210/634, 210/639, 210/743, 210/749, 210/774, 210/770, 435/134, 435/262, 435/267, 435/271, 435/272, 443/07, 443/08, 446/05, 47/14, 554/12, 554/14, 554/20, 208/15, 208/49, 208/87, 208/133, 208/142, 203/28, 203/39, 203/91, 560/218, 562/600
• US Class Current: 210/634
• 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 selectively separating products from a wet algal biomass comprised of intact algal cells, the method comprising:

a. combining a wet algal biomass with an about 1;

1 by weight isopropyl alcohol-ethanol mixture, to make a first extraction mixture, wherein the weight of the isopropyl alcohol-ethanol mixture set is about the same as the weight of the wet algal biomass;

b. separating the first extraction mixture into a first liquid fraction comprising proteins and a first biomass fraction;

c. combining the first biomass fraction with an about 1;

1 by weight isopropyl alcohol-ethanol mixture to make a second extraction mixture, wherein the weight of the isopropyl alcohol-ethanol mixture is about the same as the weight of the first biomass fraction;

d. separating the second extraction mixture into a second liquid fraction comprising polar lipids and a second biomass fraction;

e. combining the second biomass fraction with an about 1;

1 by weight isopropyl alcohol-ethanol mixture to make a third extraction mixture, wherein the weight of the isopropyl alcohol-ethanol mixture is about the same as the weight of the second biomass fraction;

f. 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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the first, second, or third extraction mixtures to a temperature below the boiling point of the extraction mixture.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering a first extraction product from the first liquid fraction.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering a second extraction product from the second liquid fraction.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising recovering a third extraction product from the third liquid fraction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second or third extraction mixture is held under a pressure greater than or equal to atmospheric pressure for a period of time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the period of time is at least 45 minutes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the algal biomass is unfrozen.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the pH of at least one of the extraction mixtures to optimize protein extraction.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating the sequence of combining and separating steps at least one more time.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the pH of at least one of the first, second, and third extraction mixtures to optimize protein extraction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the algal biomass is simultaneously at least partially dewatered while products are selectively extracted from the algal biomass.