Patent ID: 8318018
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: A61P,B01D,C11B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of making biofuels, comprising: a. dewatering intact algal cells to make a wet algal biomass comprising intact algal cells; b. combining the wet algal biomass with a first solvent set, the solvent set consisting of one or more amphiphilic solvents, to make a first extraction mixture, wherein the weight of the first solvent set is about the same as the weight of the wet algal biomass; c. separating the first extraction mixture into a first liquid phase comprising proteins and a first solid phase; d. combining the first solid phase with a second amphiphilic solvent set to make a second extraction mixture, wherein the weight of the amphiphilic solvent set is about the same as the weight of the first solid phase; e. separating the second extraction mixture into a second liquid phase comprising polar lipids and a second solid phase; f. combining the second solid phase with ethanol in a ratio of about 10 parts ethanol to about 1 part wet algal biomass by weight, under conditions wherein the intact algal cells remain intact, to generate an extraction mixture comprising a third solid phase and third a liquid phase; g. separating the third solid phase from the third liquid phase, wherein the first liquid phase has a higher protein concentration than the second and third liquid phases, the second liquid phase has a higher polar lipids concentration than the first and third liquid phases, and the third liquid phase has a higher neutral lipids concentration than the first and second liquid phases; h. transesterifying the neutral lipids to produce a mixture comprising glycerin, fuel esters and unesterifiable material; i. separating a water miscible fraction comprising glycerin from a water immiscible fraction comprising fuel esters, and unesterifiable material; and j. recovering the fuel esters.