Green Extraction Technology for Algal Components
Low-temperature extraction minimizing oxidation and degradation
Overview
The inventors have developed a subcritical separation technology, which, combined with a newly established method for estimating phase equilibria in a carbon dioxide–ethanol–water ternary solvent system near room temperature, enables the design of efficient extraction conditions for algal oils.
This invention proposes a clean extraction technology that mixes subcritical fluids with a feed solution (alcohol–water solution containing algae) to separate a vapor phase enriched in oils and a liquid phase enriched in chlorophyll and pheophorbide.
◎ Enhanced Safety
◎ Suppression of Oxidation and Thermal Degradation
◎ Energy Savings
◎ Low Environmental Impact
Concept of the subcritical separation method
Product Application
・Functional foods (antioxidant algal oils)
・Pharmaceutical ingredients
・Cosmetics and skin-care ingredients (high-purity, low-irritation oils)
・Biodiesel fuel
Related Works
[1] Fractionation of hops-extract–ethanol solutions using dense CO2 with a counter-current extraction column - ScienceDirect [2] High-pressure phase equilibria of liquid CO2 with ethanol - water mixtures - ScienceDirect
IP Data
IP No. ： JP2024-143269
Inventor ： Masaki Ota, Masaru Watanabe, Masato Urabe
keyword ： supercritical, subcritical, biomass, microalgae, energy