Culturing Solutions develops new lipid extraction technology

Biodiesel Magazine
November 2008
By Ron Kotrba
Web exclusive posted Nov. 4, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. CST

A new lipid extraction technology for algae has been developed by Culturing Solutions Inc., according to company Chief Executive Officer Dean Tsoupeis. The process is called ultrasonic cavitation. “There are different varieties of reactors out there that utilize this technology, but ours passes the algae biomass through a chamber and what’s called the horn,” Tsoupeis said. “The tolerance between the chamber and the horn is very small and, as it passes over that, the cavitation occurs, which creates small bubbles that collapse on a high-pressure cycle.”

The process is a violent reaction, essentially, which ruptures the algal cell wall to release the lipids. From there, the material goes to a “special centrifuge” to separate out the oil, water and biomass, Tsoupeis said. After separation, dehydration and evaporation can take place to remove any remaining water in the oil, which can proceed “straight to biodiesel production,” he added.

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