Patent · US Active

Methods for dewatering wet algal cell cultures

US8187463B2 · kind B2 · utility

29Cited by
35References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 7, 2011
Grant dateMay 29, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 7, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E50/10
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method of dewatering algae and recycling water therefrom is presented. A method of dewatering a wet algal cell culture includes removing liquid from an algal cell culture to obtain a wet algal biomass having a lower liquid content than the algal cell culture. At least a portion of the liquid removed from the algal cell culture is recycled for use in a different algal cell culture. The method includes adding a water miscible solvent set to the wet algal biomass and waiting an amount of time to permit algal cells of the algal biomass to gather and isolating at least a portion of the gathered algal cells from at least a portion of the solvent set and liquid of the wet algal biomass so that a dewatered algal biomass is generated. The dewatered algal biomass can be used to generated algal products such as biofuels and nutraceuticals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.