Patent ID: 9085745
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: A23D,B01D,B03C,B03D,C11B,C12M,C12N,C25B,Y02E,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A method for extracting non-polar lipids from microalgae in a flowing aqueous slurry, comprising: providing an aqueous slurry comprising microalgae; providing a lipid extraction apparatus having a body including a channel that defines a fluid flow path, wherein a cathode and an anode form at least a portion of the channel that defines the fluid flow path, the cathode and the anode being spaced apart to form a gap with a distance in a range from 0.5 mm to 200 mm within the channel; flowing the aqueous slurry through the channel and applying an electromotive force across the gap that compromises the microalgae cells and releases a lipid fraction having greater than 80 wt % non-polar lipids and less than 20 wt % polar lipids; and recovering at least a portion of the nonpolar lipid fraction.