Siliceous particles

摘要

Various aspects provide for extracting siliceous particles. Siliceous particles may include or be derived from diatoms. Certain embodiments provide for segregating suspensions into two or more segregation products. In some cases, a first product includes siliceous particles, and a second product may include hydrophobic species. Certain aspects provide for extracting non-siliceous biomass (e.g., lipids).

主权项

1. A method for extracting siliceous particles, the method comprising:
providing a suspension comprising an aqueous liquid and diatoms having siliceous frustules; adding a nonpolar solvent to the suspension to create a mixture; agitating the mixture; segregating the mixture into at least a first product and a second product, the first product having a higher amount of frustules than the second product; and removing any of the first and second products, wherein the second product includes lipid biomass suitable for production of biofuel, wherein a ratio of the nonpolar solvent to the diatoms is below 1 percent by mass.