Patent ID: 8476412

Claim:
A method of selectively removing algal proteins from a freshwater algal biomass or freshwater algal culture comprised of intact algal cells, the method comprising: a. heating and mixing the freshwater algal biomass or freshwater algal culture, to generate a first heated extraction mixture, comprised of a first liquid fraction and a first biomass fraction; b. separating the first liquid fraction from the first biomass fraction; c. mixing the first biomass fraction with salt water and heating the resulting mixture to generate a second heated extraction mixture, comprised of a second liquid fraction and a second biomass fraction; d. separating the second liquid fraction from the second biomass fraction; e. mixing the second biomass fraction with water and heating to generate a third heated extraction mixture, comprised of a third liquid fraction and a third biomass fraction; f. raising the pH of the third heated extraction mixture; g. separating the third liquid fraction from the third biomass fraction; h. mixing the third biomass fraction with an amphipathic solvent set and heating to generate a fourth heated extraction mixture comprised of a fourth liquid fraction and a fourth biomass fraction; and i. separating the fourth liquid fraction from the fourth biomass fraction, wherein the first liquid fraction has a higher albumin protein concentration than the second, third, and fourth liquid fractions, the second liquid fraction has a higher globulin protein concentration than the first, third, and fourth liquid fractions, the third liquid fraction has a higher glutelin protein concentration than the first, second, and fourth liquid fractions, and the fourth liquid fraction has a higher prolamin protein concentration than the first, second, and third liquid fractions.