Patent ID: 9382558
Filing Date: 2016-07-05
CPC Classification: A23K,C11B,C11C,C12P,Y02E

Claim Text:
1. A continuous process for the production of fatty acids from phytoplankton, said process comprising: a) Pressurizing a concentrated slurry with the weight content of the biomass from 5 wt % to 20 wt % to a pressure between 20 and 200 bar; b) performing thermal hydrolysis on the slurry stream using steam as the heat source to convert the immobilized lipids into free fatty acids of varying lengths at temperatures ranging from 200 to 700° C.; c) recovering the heat of the system by interchanging the hydrolysis product with the incoming slurry stream; d) depressurizing the hydrolysis product stream in a separator to release the cooled fatty acids from the depleted slurry; e) feeding the cooled fatty acids stream to a distillation tower for purification; f) feeding the depleted slurry comprisinq the deoiled phytoplankton biomass and water containing glycerol and other water solubles into the solids-liquid filter; g) separating the leftover biomass from the glycerin and water stream by means of filtration; and h) spray-dryinq the biomass for use as a food ingredient for animal feed.