Aquatic Biomass Processing for Multi-Product Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for processing aquatic biomass do not efficiently recover multiple valuable products, such as protein concentrates and bio-crudes, from aquatic species like Lemna, limiting their commercialization and utilization in biofuels and animal feeds.
Innovation Solution
A process involving biomass lysing, separation, protein concentrate formation, and bio-crude production, including steps like mechanical milling, pressing, centrifugation, and drying, to generate dry protein concentrates and carbohydrate-rich meals with high protein content, utilizing equipment like ball mills, centrifuges, and dryers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If aquatic biomass is processed using conventional single-product methods, then processing simplicity is maintained, but product recovery efficiency and commercialization value are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system is divided into distinct functional modules: a lysing module that mechanically breaks down biomass cells to release intracellular contents, a separation module that partitions lysed material into protein-rich juice and solid phases, and independent processing lines for each product type. This modular segmentation enables efficient recovery of multiple products simultaneously while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized unit operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system is designed to produce multiple valuable products from a single biomass feedstock: protein concentrates for animal feed, bio-crude for fuel production, and carbohydrate-rich meals as by-products. This multi-functionality maximizes the commercialization value of aquatic biomass by converting what would traditionally be a single-product process into a multi-product value chain, thereby improving overall productivity without requiring separate processing facilities.
2Manufacturing precision
If protein concentrate is produced with high protein content (>50%), then product quality and commercial value are improved, but processing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts protein from aquatic biomass through a two-stage concentration process. First, the lysing module releases intracellular protein into the juice phase. Second, the separation module isolates protein-rich juice from solid phases, achieving >50% protein content in the concentrate. This extraction approach achieves high manufacturing precision by selectively removing protein from the biomass matrix through mechanical lysis and phase separation, without requiring complex purification steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The protein concentration process utilizes parameter changes in the form of phase separation and density-based partitioning. By controlling the lysis conditions and separation parameters, the system achieves high protein content concentrates through natural phase behavior rather than complex chemical or thermal processing. The protein-rich juice phase is separated based on density and solubility differences, achieving >50% protein content through physical parameter optimization rather than complex device systems.
3Productivity
If multiple products are recovered from aquatic biomass, then commercialization value and sustainability are improved, but processing time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system operates as a continuous multi-product generation platform where biomass feedstock is continuously lysed, separated, and diverted to different product streams. The protein concentrate line, bio-crude line, and carbohydrate meal line operate simultaneously from the same lysed biomass feed, eliminating the need for sequential processing. This continuous parallel operation maximizes productivity by producing multiple products in the same time frame rather than processing them sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The lysing module performs preliminary action by completely breaking down the biomass cell structure before separation, releasing all intracellular components into the juice phase. This preliminary lysis action enables subsequent simultaneous recovery of protein, bio-crude, and carbohydrates from the same processed material, reducing overall processing time by avoiding repeated lysis steps for each product line.
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 process effectively recovers high-protein concentrates and bio-crudes from aquatic biomass, enabling large-scale commercialization and sustainable production of biofuels and animal feeds, with over 50% protein in the dry protein concentrate and efficient recycling of by-products.
Implementation Method 1
The lysing can include using at least one of: a ball mill, a colloid mill, a knife mill, a hammer mill, a grinding mill
Implementation Method 2
separating the lysed biomass to generate a juice and a first solid phase
Implementation Method 3
drying the wet protein concentrate to generate a dry protein concentrate
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to methods for recovering multiple products from industrial-scale production of a biomass of an aquatic species. Specifically, the present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to methods for cultivating Lemna for extracting a protein concentrate, a biocrude, and/or a carbohydrate-rich meal. In some embodiments, a process of recovering at least one product from biomass of an aquatic species may comprise: lysing a biomass to generate a lysed biomass; separating the lysed biomass to generate a juice and a first solid phase; filtering the juice to generate a filtered juice and a second solid phase; clarifying at least one juice to generate a clarified juice and a third solid phase, wherein the clarified juice comprises a soluble protein; coagulating the soluble protein from the clarified juice to generate a liquor comprising a wet protein concentrate; and separating the wet protein concentrate from the liquor.