CN-121991757-A - Microalgae species thermal hydrolysis for the production of biocrudes and other bioactive molecules

Abstract

A method for preparing bio-crude oil and bioactive substances from microalgae biomass includes such steps as mixing dried microalgae biomass with water and acid catalyst, heating the mixture at high pressure for a certain time and a certain temp, or treating it with solvent in colloid mill, vacuum filtering to separate the non-polar extract from water-soluble extract, washing the cracked cells and non-polar extract with organic solvent, vacuum filtering to separate the mixture of organic solvent containing alcohol and long-chain fatty acid from residual biochar, and distilling or rotary evaporating to separate alcohol from fatty acid.

Inventors

• Lei Haenlula
• Druff Manoji Jane
• Jian Deshan

Assignees

• 阿尔格林有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20251107

Priority Date

20241107

Claims (20)

1. 1. A method for producing bio-crude and bioactive substances from microalgae biomass, comprising the steps of: mixing and stirring the dried microalgae biomass with water and an acid catalyst; under the high-pressure condition, heating according to the set temperature and time of different algae species; Separating the nonpolar extract from the water-soluble extract in the lysed algal cells by vacuum filtration; washing and lysing the algal cells and the nonpolar extract using an organic solvent; separating the organic solvent mixture containing ethanol and long chain fatty acid from the residual biochar by vacuum filtration, and Ethanol is separated from fatty acids by distillation or rotary evaporation to extract bio-oil.
2. 2. The method of producing bio-crude and bioactive material from microalgae biomass as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the mixing ratio of dry microalgae biomass to water is 1:5.
3. 3. The method of producing biocrude and bioactive material from microalgae biomass as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the acid catalyst includes but is not limited to hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid in a ratio of 5:0.08 in aqueous solution.
4. 4. The method of producing biocrude and bioactive substances from microalgae biomass as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the temperature and time of the mixture heating process is 100-250 ℃ for 10-180 minutes.
5. 5. The method of producing bio-crude and bioactive material from microalgae biomass as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the mixture heating volume is no more than 60% of the maximum proportion of the pressure vessel capacity.
6. 6. The method of producing biocrude and bioactive substances from microalgae biomass according to claim 1, characterized in that the water soluble extract contains proteins, amino acids, glycerol and other bioactive molecules.
7. 7. The method of producing biocrude and bioactive substances from microalgae biomass according to claim 1, characterized in that the organic solvent comprises ethanol, methanol and n-hexane in a ratio of 1:1 to 6:1, depending on the moisture content and liquid composition of the microalgae.
8. 8. A microalgae biomass thermal hydrolysis system for producing bio-crude oil and bioactive substances, comprising: A high pressure vessel; vacuum filtration device, and A rotary evaporation device.
9. 9. The microalgae biomass thermal hydrolysis system for producing bio-crude and bioactive substances as claimed in claim 8, wherein the dried microalgae biomass is placed in an aqueous medium and subjected to extraction at 100-250 ℃ for 10-180 minutes in a high pressure vessel, specifically for a period of time depending on the algae species, to produce bio-oil and bioactive substances.
10. 10. Microalgae biomass thermal hydrolysis system for producing biocrude and bioactive substances as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bio-oil contains 90% long chain free fatty acids, bioactive substances contain glycerol and other bioactive molecules such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
11. 11. The microalgae biomass thermal hydrolysis system for producing biocrude and bioactive substances as claimed in claim 9, wherein the produced extract further includes but is not limited to 2-pyrrolidone, 1-piperidine formamide, bis (2-ethylhexyl) 1, 4-phthalate, 3-methyl-1, 2-cyclopentanedione, and 3-isobutylhexahydropyrrolo [1,2-a ] pyrazine-1, 4-dione.
12. 12. A method for producing bio-crude and bioactive substances from microalgae biomass, comprising the steps of: mixing and stirring the dried microalgae biomass with water and an acid catalyst; Treating the biomass mixture with a solvent in a colloid mill; separating the lysed algal cells into a non-polar extract and a water-soluble extract by vacuum filtration; washing and lysing the algal cells and the nonpolar extract using an organic solvent; Separating the organic solvent mixture containing ethanol and long chain fatty acid from the residual biochar by vacuum filtration, and Ethanol is separated from fatty acids by distillation or rotary evaporation to extract bio-oil.
13. 13. The method of producing bio-crude and bioactive material from microalgae biomass as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the mixing ratio of dry microalgae biomass to water is 1:5.
14. 14. The method of producing biocrude and bioactive material from microalgae biomass as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the acid catalyst includes but is not limited to hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid in a ratio of 5:0.08 in aqueous solution.
15. 15. The method of producing bio-crude and bioactive material from microalgae biomass as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the treatment ratio of biomass mixture to solvent is 1:2 to 1:7 according to lipid content and moisture content of microalgae.
16. 16. The method of producing biocrude and bioactive substances from microalgae biomass according to claim 12, characterized in that the water soluble extract contains proteins, amino acids, glycerol and other bioactive molecules.
17. 17. The method for producing bio-crude and bioactive substances from microalgae biomass according to claim 12, characterized in that the organic solvent comprises ethanol, methanol and n-hexane, and the addition amount thereof is 1 to 6 parts by weight of organic solvent for every 1 part by weight of dry microalgae biomass, and the specific proportion is adjusted according to the water content and liquid composition of the microalgae.
18. 18. A microalgae biomass system for producing bio-crude and bioactive substances, comprising: Colloid mill; A vacuum filtration device; rotary evaporation device, and And a storage tank.
19. 19. Microalgae biomass system for the production of biocrude and bioactive substances as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the dried microalgae biomass in an aqueous medium is extracted in a colloid mill to produce a bio-oil containing 90% long chain free fatty acids and bioactive substances containing glycerol and other bioactive molecules such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
20. 20. The microalgae biomass system for producing bio-crude and bioactive substances as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the produced extract further includes but is not limited to 2-pyrrolidone, 1-piperidine formamide, 1, 4-bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 3-methyl-1, 2-cyclopentanedione and 3-isobutyl hexahydropyrrolo [1,2-a ] pyrazine-1, 4-dione.

Description

Microalgae species thermal hydrolysis for the production of biocrudes and other bioactive molecules Technical Field The invention relates to a thermal hydrolysis method and a thermal hydrolysis system of microalgae, in particular to a thermal hydrolysis method and a thermal hydrolysis system for industrial production of biological crude oil and other bioactive molecules. Background Microalgae biomass is known in the art to produce industrial biocrudes. Therefore, the production of such bio-oils from dry microalgae biomass to make biofuels is of paramount importance. In recent research aimed at producing high-quality fuels, there are several microalgae biomass crude oil production methods that have versatility, expandability and high energy efficiency. Although the existing method can utilize various renewable raw materials such as vegetable oil, animal fat, waste grease and the like, and can flexibly adjust the scale according to the production requirements, the existing method is high in energy consumption and high in production cost. Therefore, it is needed to provide a method and a system for producing microalgae biological crude oil with low cost. Patent document publication number 2012062962A1 of the world intellectual property organization discloses a method for recovering lipids from microbial biomass. The method includes providing a lipid-containing wet microbial biomass for extraction without disrupting biomass cell walls, followed by extracting the wet microbial biomass with a liquid extractant under high temperature and pressure conditions of at least 170 ℃. The combination of temperature and pressure brings the intracellular lipids into contact with the extractant. The extracted lipids are then recovered from or with the extractant. Although this method of recovering lipids from microbial biomass can recover a variety of renewable raw materials including fats, oils, waxes, etc., the process is complex and may require skilled operators to operate, thereby increasing the operating costs. Patent document with publication number 2013184317A1 of the world intellectual property organization discloses a combined system and process of hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and Catalytic Hydrothermal Gasification (CHG) which can convert various biomass-containing raw materials into separable bio-oil and wastewater containing residual organic matters. The bio-oil can be converted into useful bio-based fuels and other chemical raw materials. Residual organic matters in the HTL water waste liquid can be converted into medium-heating-value product gas after being gasified, and the medium-heating-value product gas can be directly used for process heating or energy supply. However, the system and process are complex and may require skilled operators to operate, thereby increasing the cost of operation. Patent document publication number 2014022218A1 of the world intellectual property organization discloses a process for producing hydrocarbons from a mixture of beneficiated coal and algal biomass. By mixing the aliphatic-rich biomass with coal to produce a feedstock, hydrocarbons suitable for commercial use or further refining can be produced. The raw materials are processed to form a mixed product, and then separated to obtain the biological oil or hydrocarbon. However, the system and process are complex and may require specialized operators to operate, thereby increasing the cost of operation. U.S. patent publication number 10077454B1 discloses a method and system for converting algal biomass into biofuels, alcohols, and/or other useful byproducts. The method comprises an integrated biochemical and thermochemical process that provides high purity biofuels and mixed alcohols while minimizing waste and/or maximizing efficiency. While this method and system enables low cost, efficient biofuel production from algal biomass sources, its process is complex and may require skilled operators to perform. Therefore, there is a need to develop a simple and efficient thermal hydrolysis method and system for producing bio-crude and other bioactive molecules required by industry, which has the advantages of simplified process, low manpower requirement, controllable cost, and the like. Disclosure of Invention The present invention aims to provide an improved, simple thermal hydrolysis method and system for producing bio-crude and other bioactive molecules, which can be easily implemented at low cost. The above object is achieved by following the solution according to the invention. The invention relates to a method for producing bio-crude oil and bioactive substances by a microalgae biomass pyrolysis method, which comprises the following steps of mixing and stirring dry microalgae biomass, water and an acid catalyst, heating according to different algae species characteristics at a set temperature and for a set time under a high pressure condition, separating nonpolar extracts from water-soluble extracts in cracked algae cells by