Acetone Solvent Lipid Separation from Microbial Biomass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for isolating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from microbial cells, such as those of the order Thraustochytriales, face challenges with hazardous operating conditions due to the use of organic solvents like hexane and high salt concentrations, which lead to environmental pollution and unsustainability.
Innovation Solution
A method using acetone as a solvent to separate PUFAs from biomass, which avoids hazardous organic solvents and high salt usage, allowing for efficient and sustainable oil isolation by lysing the cells, mixing with acetone, and separating the oil-rich phase from the aqueous phase, followed by easy acetone recovery and recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If organic solvents like hexane are used to isolate oil from microbial cells, then the isolation effectiveness is improved, but hazardous operating conditions and environmental pollution occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the solvent from hydrophobic organic solvents (hexane) to polar organic solvent (acetone). This parameter change allows effective oil isolation while eliminating hazardous operating conditions, as acetone is non-flammable and environmentally benign. The acetone selectively solubilizes lipids from cell debris through its polar nature, achieving both effectiveness and safety.
2Productivity
If high amounts of sodium chloride are used for salting-out the oil, then the oil isolation is improved, but the delipidated biomass cannot be utilized as feed ingredient and equipment corrosion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the oil using acetone as a selective solvent that pulls lipids out of the cell debris matrix. This extraction mechanism replaces the salting-out mechanism, allowing oil isolation without introducing high salt concentrations into the biomass. The acetone forms a separate phase with the extracted oil, leaving the biomass free of excessive salt and suitable for feed utilization.
3Productivity
If acetone is used as solvent for isolating oil from biomass, then the separation efficiency is improved and operating conditions are safer, but acetone removal and recovery processes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of acetone from liquid to vapor through evaporation. After oil isolation, the acetone is easily removed by evaporating it off, leaving the oil behind. This phase transition approach simplifies the recovery process compared to complex distillation systems, as acetone's low boiling point allows for energy-efficient evaporation and recycling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively isolates PUFAs without hazardous conditions, reduces environmental impact, and allows for the utilization of delipidated biomass, making the process more sustainable and cost-effective compared to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
Adding to the suspension as obtained in step (b) acetone, until a final amount of between 25 and 47.5 wt.-% of acetone is reached; Separating the oil and acetone containing light phase as obtained in step (d) from the water, acetone, salt and cell debris containing heavy phase
Implementation Method 2
Due to its surprisingly easy separation and recovery, acetone can be recycled in the process
Data Source
AI summary
The current invention relates to a method of separating polyunsaturated fatty acids containing lipids from a lipids containing biomass by using acetone.