Patent ID: 8157994
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: C11B

Abstract:
1. A system for extracting lipids from an oleaginous material, the system comprising: a first inlet reservoir; a second inlet reservoir; a final inlet reservoir; a first extraction reservoir; a second extraction reservoir; a final extraction reservoir; a first separation device between the first inlet reservoir and the first extraction reservoir, wherein the first separation device is configured to separate an oleaginous material and a first water-soluble solvent into a first retentate portion and a first diffusate portion, wherein the first retentate portion comprises at least a portion of the oleaginous material and the first diffusate portion comprises at least a portion of the first water-soluble solvent, and wherein the first diffusate portion is collected in the first extraction reservoir; a second separation device between the second inlet reservoir and the second extraction reservoir, wherein the second separation device is configured to separate the first retentate portion and a second water-soluble solvent into a second retentate portion and a second diffusate portion, wherein the second retentate portion comprises at least a portion of the first retentate portion and the second diffusate portion comprises at least a portion of the second water-soluble solvent, and wherein the second diffusate portion is collected in the second extraction reservoir; a final separation device between the final inlet reservoir and the final extraction reservoir, wherein the final separation device is configured to separate at least a portion of the second retentate portion and a third water-soluble solvent into a final retentate portion and a final diffusate portion, wherein the final retentate portion comprises at least a portion of the oleaginous material and the final diffusate portion comprises at least a portion of the final water-soluble solvent, wherein the final diffusate portion is collected in the final extration reservoir; a first recycle pump configured to pump at least a portion of the first diffusate portion from the first extraction reservoir to the first inlet reservoir, the first diffusate forming at least a portion of the first water-soluble solvent; a second recycle pump configured to pump at least a portion of the second diffusate portion from the second extraction reservoir to the second inlet reservoir, the second diffusate forming at least a portion of the second water-soluble solvent; and a transport mechanism configured to