Dilutable Microemulsion Extraction of Polar Oils From Biomass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting poorly water-soluble polar oils from biomass substrates, such as steam distillation, solvent extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction, face inefficiencies, high energy consumption, and difficulty in separating polar oils from surfactants, leading to low extraction yields and potential contamination from water-soluble residues.
Innovation Solution
A dilutable microemulsion composition comprising a surfactant with a specific hydrocarbon tail group, a hydrophilic linker, and a solvent oil, a hydrophilic linker, and a solvent oil is used to create a single-phase microemulsion that forms an oily surfactant extract phase (OSEP) with an excess aqueous phase, allowing for the separation of polar oils and removal of water-soluble residues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If steam distillation is used to extract polar oils, then the extraction process is simple to set up and operate, but the extraction efficiency is poor for low volatility oils and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the extraction parameter from thermal energy (steam) to chemical energy (supercritical CO2), transforming the extraction mechanism from heat-driven vaporization to pressure-driven solubility-based extraction. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational simplicity while dramatically improving extraction efficiency for low-volatility polar oils.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of CO2 between supercritical and gaseous states to achieve efficient extraction. By controlling pressure and temperature, CO2 transitions to a supercritical state for extraction, then returns to gaseous state for easy separation, eliminating the need for complex solvent recovery while maintaining high efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If steam distillation is used to extract polar oils, then the extraction process is simple to set up and operate, but the extraction time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the extraction parameter from thermal energy (steam) to chemical energy (supercritical CO2), transforming the extraction mechanism from heat-driven vaporization to pressure-driven solubility-based extraction. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational simplicity while dramatically improving extraction efficiency for low-volatility polar oils.
3Productivity
If solvent extraction is used to extract polar oils, then the extraction speed is faster, but additional energy inputs and equipment complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of CO2 between supercritical and gaseous states to achieve efficient extraction. By controlling pressure and temperature, CO2 transitions to a supercritical state for extraction, then returns to gaseous state for easy separation, eliminating the need for complex solvent recovery while maintaining high efficiency.
4Productivity
If supercritical fluid extraction is used to extract polar oils, then the extraction efficiency is high, but the pressure required is high leading to high capital costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of CO2 between supercritical and gaseous states to achieve efficient extraction. By controlling pressure and temperature, CO2 transitions to a supercritical state for extraction, then returns to gaseous state for easy separation, eliminating the need for complex solvent recovery while maintaining high efficiency.
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
The method achieves high extraction efficiency and concentration of polar oils while minimizing contamination, with the formation of an oily surfactant extract phase (OSEP) and an excess aqueous phase, allowing for the separation of polar oils and water-soluble residues, and the separation of water-soluble residues.
Implementation Method 1
A dilutable microemulsion composition comprising a surfactant with a specific hydrocarbon tail group, a hydrophilic linker, and a solvent oil is used to create a single-phase microemulsion that forms an oily surfactant extract phase (OSEP) with an excess aqueous phase
Implementation Method 2
allowing for the separation of polar oils and removal of water-soluble residues
Implementation Method 3
A dilutable microemulsion composition comprising a surfactant with a specific hydrocarbon tail group, a hydrophilic linker, and a solvent oil
Data Source
AI summary
A method of extraction of one or more polar oils from a biomass substrate into an oily surfactant extract phase (OSEP), the method comprising: i) mixing an aqueous diluting solution, a dilutable extraction media (DtableEM) and the biomass substrate containing one or more polar oils to obtain a mixture having a biomass residue and a liquid phase comprising an emulsified OSEP and an excess aqueous phase, the DtableEM comprising: (a) 0 to 10% of a surfactant, having at least one hydrocarbon group with 12 to 18 carbon atoms; (b) a hydrophilic linker, having one hydrocarbon group with 6 to 10 carbon atoms; and (c) a solvent oil, excluding linear alkanes; ii) separating the biomass residue in the mixture from the liquid phase; and iii) separating in the liquid phase the excess aqueous phase from the emulsified OSEP to obtain the OSEP containing the extracted one or more polar oils.