Patent ID: 8192627
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: A23K,B01D,C10G,C10L,C11B,C12F,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: dewatering a bio-oil process stream from a biomass processing facility with a mechanical processor to produce a de-oiled process stream and an emulsion concentrate, wherein the emulsion concentrate contains entrapped bio-oil; combining an emulsion-breaking additive with the emulsion concentrate in an amount sufficient to release the entrapped bio-oil from the emulsion concentrate and produce a reaction product containing released bio-oil and an amount of the emulsion-breaking additive, wherein the emulsion-breaking additive is a polar protic solvent; removing at least some of the emulsion breaking additive from the reaction product to yield a broken emulsion concentrate; and phase separating the broken emulsion concentrate to yield an aqueous phase and a bio-oil phase.