Patent ID: 8293108

Claim:
A method of making biofuels, comprising: dewatering intact algal cells to make an algal biomass; extracting a first liquid fraction from the algal biomass using a first solvent set, wherein the first solvent set comprises an alcohol, in a ratio of about 1 part algal biomass to about 1 part first solvent set, the first liquid fraction comprising a protein rich fraction; extracting a second liquid fraction from the algal biomass using a second solvent set, wherein the second solvent set comprises an alcohol, in a ratio of about 1 part algal biomass to about 1 part second solvent set, the second fraction comprising polar lipids, the second solvent set having a lower polarity than the first solvent set, and the second liquid fraction having a higher percentage of polar lipids than the first liquid fraction; extracting a third liquid fraction from the algal biomass using a third solvent set, wherein the third solvent set comprises an alcohol, in a ratio of about 1 part algal biomass to about 1 part third solvent set, the third fraction comprising neutral lipids, the third solvent set having a lower polarity than the first and second solvent sets, and the third liquid fraction having a higher percentage of neutral lipids than the first or second liquid fractions and a lower percentage of polar lipids than the second liquid fraction; esterifying the neutral lipids; separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters; distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids; and hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.