US 11,806,640 B2
Liquid carbon dioxide and cosolvent biomass extraction method and system
James Anthony Seabrook, West Kelowna (CA); Kiran Dayaram, Kelowna (CA); Spencer Hugh Martin, Kelowna (CA); Raymond Lyle Brown, Kelowna (CA); and Sean Cameron Demers, Kelowna (CA)
Assigned to Vitalis Extraction Technology Inc., Kelowna (CA)
Filed by Vitalis Extraction Technology Inc., Kelowna (CA)
Filed on Nov. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/053,653.
Application 18/053,653 is a continuation of application No. 17/587,549, filed on Jan. 28, 2022, granted, now 11,541,329.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/143,284, filed on Jan. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0092529 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01D 11/02 (2006.01); C07C 37/82 (2006.01); B01J 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 11/0203 (2013.01) [B01D 11/0288 (2013.01); B01J 3/008 (2013.01); C07C 37/82 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for extracting molecules from biomass comprising:
in a monosolvent extraction step, extracting cryogenically frozen biomass at a temperature of 0° C. or less with liquid carbon dioxide monosolvent while maintaining the temperature of the biomass at 0° C. or less to obtain one or more monosolvent fractions, wherein the biomass is cryogenically frozen in an extraction vessel with liquid carbon dioxide to a temperature of 0° C. or less at a pressure of less than 500 psi by directing liquid carbon dioxide into the extraction vessel and transferring heat from the biomass to the liquid carbon dioxide to cause boiling of the liquid carbon dioxide and evaporative cooling of the biomass to a temperature of 0° C. or less to freeze any moisture in the biomass;
in a cosolvent extraction step, extracting the biomass with liquid carbon dioxide and a cosolvent immiscible with water at standard conditions to obtain one or more cosolvent fractions; and
collecting the one or more monosolvent fractions and the one or more cosolvent fractions by removing the liquid carbon dioxide and recovering an extractant oil from each fraction.