Subcritical water extraction of lipids from wet algal biomass

摘要

Methods of lipid extraction from biomass, in particular wet algae, through conventionally heated subcritical water, and microwave-assisted subcritical water. In one embodiment, fatty acid methyl esters from solids in a polar phase are further extracted to increase biofuel production.

主权项

1. A method of lipid extraction from biomass, the biomass comprising algae and water, the method comprising:
feeding the biomass to a reactor; pressurizing the biomass in the reactor to a pressure that is above atmospheric pressure; heating the biomass to heat the water to a subcritical temperature and to lyse the algae in the reactor for a residency time in the reactor sufficient to lyse the algae; and separating a non-polar phase comprising greater than about 29% total lipid with a FAME content in the total lipid that is greater than about 51% for biofuel production from a polar phase comprising water and solids.