Devices and methods to extract a desired product from organic matter using supercritical fluid extraction processes are described herein. The extraction vessel generally includes a reaction chamber, a water jacket affixed to the reaction chamber capable of separate pressurization, and a closure mechanism with a gasket, a plug, and a cap ring with ACME threading. The extraction vessel may be sealed by hand closure without a need for additional tools to create a seal able to withstand pressures up to 5,000 psi.

A method of recovering one or more insoluble oils from a liquid source using one or more membrane or membrane contactors, comprising the steps of: pumping the liquid source comprising the one or more oils to the membranes or membrane contactors, contacting the liquid source with a first surface of the membrane or membrane contactors, coalescing the one or more oils within the liquid source onto the first surface of the membrane contactors, pumping one or more recovery fluids through the membrane or membrane contactors in contact with the second surface of the membrane or membrane contactors, and removing a first stream of oil coalesced from the second surface of the membranes or membrane contactors.

The present invention provides an annular centrifugal contactor, having a housing to receive a plurality of liquids; a rotor inside the housing; an annular mixing zone, with a plurality of fluid retention reservoirs; and an adjustable stem that can be raised to restrict the flow of a liquid into the rotor or lowered to increase the flow of liquid into the rotor. The invention also provides a method for transferring moieties from a first liquid to a second liquid, the method having the steps of combining the fluids in a housing whose interior has helically shaped first channels; subjecting the fluids to a spinning rotor to produce a mixture, whereby the channels simultaneously conduct the mixture downwardly and upwardly; and passing the mixture through the rotor to contact second channels, whereby the channels pump the second liquid through a first aperture while the first fluid exits a second aperture.

A continuous-flow extraction system and method for extracting oil from oil-bearing plant parts, or biomass, with liquid-phase hydrocarbon solvent in a continuous process, providing more than one extraction vessel so that one or more extraction vessels can be cleared of exhausted biomass and reloaded with biomass, while another one or more extraction vessels are undergoing the extraction process, optionally providing a de-waxer for use when needed, providing a primary jacketed separator vessel for flashing hydrocarbon solvent to a vapor phase and precipitating and collecting liquid plant extract, providing at least one secondary jacketed separator vessel for purification and refinement of vapor-phase hydrocarbon solvent and providing for re-liquefication of the solvent for the purpose of re-circulating and reusing the solvent, and providing for the heating, cooling, and pumping necessary to carry out the various steps.

A process for purifying a diaryl carbonate, comprises introducing an aqueous stream to a diaryl carbonate stream that comprises a metal contaminant, wherein the aqueous stream reacts with the metal contaminant to form a precipitate; wherein introducing the aqueous stream to the diaryl carbonate stream results in introducing 100 to 10,000 ppm water based on the total composition of the diaryl carbonate stream and the aqueous stream; removing the precipitate via one or both of a separation column and a filter to result in a purified diaryl carbonate.

The invention relates to a method for obtaining a protein from a plant material, wherein the method comprises the steps of i) mechanically disrupting the plant cells to obtain a plant juice in the presence of a reducing agent, ii) treating the plant juice to cause aggregation of chloroplast membranes, iii) removing the aggregated chloroplast membranes by precipitation and/or microfiltration, iv) subjecting the plant juice to ultrafiltration, and v) subjecting the soluble plant protein concentrate to hydrophobic column adsorption to remove residual chlorophyll, phenolic compounds and off-odors in a single column passage. The present invention also pertains to an apparatus and system for plant protein isolation based on this method. The isolated proteins can be economically obtained in batch scale and in large scale. Further, the invention is directed to a protein obtained by the method of the invention, a food product comprising thereof, and a use thereof.

The invention relates to a method for obtaining a protein from a plant material, wherein the method comprises the steps of i) mechanically disrupting the plant cells to obtain a plant juice in the presence of a reducing agent, ii) treating the plant juice to cause aggregation of chloroplast membranes, iii) removing the aggregated chloroplast membranes by precipitation and/or microfiltration, iv) subjecting the plant juice to ultrafiltration, and v) subjecting the soluble plant protein concentrate to hydrophobic column adsorption to remove residual chlorophyll, phenolic compounds and off-odors in a single column passage. The present invention also pertains to an apparatus and system for plant protein isolation based on this method. The isolated proteins can be economically obtained in batch scale and in large scale. Further, the invention is directed to a protein obtained by the method of the invention, a food product comprising thereof, and a use thereof.

The claimed invention provides a technique wherein the two column system is combined into a single column. The light components are concentrated on the prefractionation side (feed side) of the column, where they are removed as an overhead top product. The middle boiling components are removed as an overhead product on the opposite side of dividing wall. For the same product specifications, top divided column requires substantially lower capital and operating cost than a conventional two-column system.

Methods of reducing acid gas from a stream, comprising contacting the stream with a solvent system comprising a glycerol derivative are described herein. Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a glycerol derivative and an acid gas. A method for sweetening a natural gas stream comprising contacting a solvent system comprising a glycerol derivative with a natural gas stream is described herein.

Methods of reducing acid gas from a stream, comprising contacting the stream with a solvent system comprising a glycerol derivative are described herein. Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a glycerol derivative and an acid gas. A method for sweetening a natural gas stream comprising contacting a solvent system comprising a glycerol derivative with a natural gas stream is described herein.