Tandem biochemical and thermochemical conversion of algal biomass

DWPI Title: Converting algal biomass used as biofuel crop or for waste water treatment and in industrial field, involves pre-treating algal biomass with one or more acids or more enzymes, and providing biocomponents and releasing lipid microparticles
Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and system configured to convert algal biomass into biofuels, alcohols, nutrients, biochar, chemical building block compounds, and/or other useful by-products. Exemplary methods include an integrated biochemical and thermochemical process that provides high purity biofuels and mixed alcohols, while minimizing waste and/or maximizing efficiency.
Use: Method for converting algal biomass used as biofuel crop or for waste water treatment and in industrial field.
Novelty: Converting algal biomass involves pre-treating the algal biomass with one or more acids and/or one or more enzymes, then providing one or more biocomponents and releasing lipid microparticles from the algal biomass. The fermentation broth comprising the lipid microparticles and one or more biocomponents, are fermented and provided with an alcohol and bioresidue. The shift in a microparticle size distribution of the lipid microparticles is determined where the shift indicates a presence of the alcohol. The alcohol is separated from the bioresidue and liquefying and/or pyrolyzing the bioresidue, to obtain biocrude oil.
Filed: 6/25/2015
Application Number: US14750960A
Tech ID: SD 13107.1
This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate
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