Patent ID: 6991727

Claim:
A system for removing at least one lipid from a fluid containing lipids or lipid-containing organisms, comprising: an initial phase subsystem comprising: a fluid source containing the fluid and coupled to a first device that combines the fluid with a first extraction solvent; a first extraction solvent source containing the first extraction solvent and coupled to the first device; and the first device comprising at least one hollow fiber contactor, wherein the first device receives and mixes the fluid from the fluid source and the first extraction solvent from the first extraction solvent source, forming a first mixture and dissolving at least a portion of the lipids; an intermediate phase subsystem comprising: a second extraction solvent source containing a second extraction solvent and coupled to a second device that combines the first mixture with the second extraction solvent; the second device comprising at least one hollow fiber contactor and coupled to the first device, wherein the second device receives and mixes the first mixture from the first device and the second extraction solvent from the second extraction solvent source, forming a second mixture and dissolving additional lipids and at least a portion of the first extraction solvent; a final phase subsystem comprising: a third device comprising at least one hollow fiber contactor and coupled to the second device, wherein the third device receives the second mixture and contacts the second mixture with a gas or mineral oil, removing at least a portion of any remaining solvents from the second mixture.