Novel Process for Separating Lipids from a Biomass

Abstract

A novel low cost separation process for separating lipid oil from an algal biomass for biofuel production is described herein. The process of the present invention comprises of two steps: (i) breaking the algae cells and (ii) separation of the lipid oils from the broken cells. The separated lipids are extracted by conventional techniques followed by conversion to a biofuel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lipid product formed by the process of lysing one or more microalgal cells, wherein the lysis results in an extraction of one or more algal lipids, comprising the steps of:
 cultivating a hydrocarbon or a lipid-producing microalgae in a growth media, wherein the cultivation is carried out under one or more growth conditions comprising sunlight, nutrients, water, and CO 2 ;   exposing the microalgae to low energy soundwaves in a sonicating device to produce a homogenous algal slurry comprising broken algal cells, algal lipids, and the growth media, wherein the homogeneous algal slurry comprises a lipid/oil top layer, a green layer comprising lysed microalgal cells, and a clear water layer;   extracting one or more algal lipids from the algal slurry by a chemical treatment, wherein the chemical treatment may include, but is not limited to the addition of heat, acid, and chemicals to break an oil/water emulsion;   exposing the homogeneous algal slurry to low energy soundwaves in the sonicating device to break the oil/water emulsion, wherein the exposure of the homogeneous algal slurry to low energy soundwaves is an optional treatment step; and   extracting of the one or more algal lipids.   
     
     
         2 . The lipid of  claim 1 , wherein the lipid product is substantially free of sulfur. 
     
     
         3 . The lipid of  claim 1 , wherein the lipid product comprises a fatty acid ethyl ester. 
     
     
         4 . The lipid of  claim 1 , wherein the lipid product comprises an alkane. 
     
     
         5 . A system for production of a renewable fuel or a biofuel from one or more microalgae, comprising:
 one or more microalgal growth reservoirs;   one or more microalgal homogenizers connected to the reservoirs, wherein the homogenizers comprise an apparatus that creates a homogenous slurry comprising broken microalgal cells, growth media and algal lipids by breaking the microalgal cells using low energy soundwaves to produce the homogeneous algal slurry;   one or more algal lipid extraction vessels connected to the homogenizers, wherein the algal lipids are extracted by a chemical treatment; wherein the chemical treatment may include, but is not limited to the addition of heat, acid, and chemicals to break an oil/water emulsion and   one or more converters connected to the extracted algal lipid vessel, wherein the algal lipids are converted into the renewable fuel or the biofuel.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more converters are configured for conversion by direct hydrogenation of the algal oil to produce the renewable fuel or the biofuel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more converters are configured for conversion by transesterification of the algal oil to produce the renewable fuel or the biofuel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the algae are grown under conditions that stimulate accumulation of lipids selected from at least one of light stimulation, nutrient stimulation, injection of a reactive carbon dioxide source, and nutrients. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the microalgae include an algae selected from the group consisting of diatoms (bacillariophytes), green algae (chlorophytes), blue-green algae (cyanophytes), golden-brown algae (chrysophytes), haptophytes, and combinations thereof.