Patent ID: 8927240
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: C10G,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of pyrolytic thermal fractionation of microalgae biomass comprising a protein component, a carbohydrate component, and a triglyceride component, comprising: a) heating the microalgae biomass to a first volatilization temperature of a first component comprising protein materials, and holding said first volatilization temperature of the heated microalgae biomass constant for a first period of time until no further mass loss of said first component occurs, thereby producing a first volatilized compound derived from the protein materials, wherein said first volatilization temperature is in the range of 180° C. to 240° C.; b) removing and recovering said first volatilized compound from the microalgae biomass remaining from step (a); c) heating the microalgae biomass remaining from step (b) to a second volatilization temperature of a second component comprising carbohydrate materials, and holding the second volatilization temperature of the heated microalgae biomass constant for a second period of time until no further mass loss of said second component occurs, thereby producing a second volatilized compound derived from the carbohydrate materials, wherein said second volatilization temperature is in the range of 300° C. to 350° C.; d) removing and recovering said second volatilized compound from the microalgae biomass remaining from step (c); e) heating the microalgae biomass remaining from step (d) to a third volatilization temperature of a third component comprising triglycerides, and holding the third volatilization temperature of the heated biomass constant for a third period of time until no further mass loss of said third component occurs, thereby producing a third volatilized compound derived from the triglycerides, wherein said third volatilization temperature is in the range of 370° C. to 480° C.; and f) removing and recovering said third volatilized compound from the microalgae biomass remaining from step (e).