Patent ID: 8486267
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: B01D,C10G,C10L,C12M,Y02E,Y02P,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A method of extracting one or more insoluble oils comprising algal lipid components, algal oils or both from a lysed algal preparation using one or more hydrophobic membranes or membrane modules comprising the steps of: feeding an aqueous bio-cellular slurry comprising the one or more insoluble oils by pumping in a membrane contactor that contains one or more membranes or membrane modules that comprise one or more tubes, wherein the bio-cellular slurry comprises the lysed algal preparation, and wherein bio-cellular slurry contacts a first surface of the one or more tubes of the one or more membranes or membrane modules; pumping a collection fluid through an interior passage of the one or more tubes of the one or more membranes or membrane modules, wherein the collection fluid within one or more tubes of the one or more membrane or membrane modules wets a second surface of the membrane or membrane module and wherein the collection fluid counterflows with the bio-cellular slurry in the membrane contactor, wherein the collection fluid comprises one or more solvents, a biodiesel, an algal oil, a non-polar oil or mixtures and combinations thereof; coalescing the one or more insoluble oils within the bio-cellular slurry into the collection fluid that wets the second surface of the one or more tubes of the one or more membranes or membrane modules; removing a first stream from the membrane contactor, wherein the first stream comprises an algal biomass; and removing a second stream from the membrane contactor, wherein the second stream comprises the collection fluid and the one or more extracted insoluble oils that coalesced into the collection fluid.