A low speed seed oil expeller press with the capability of extracting oil through a new design that does not crush or grind the seed so as to eliminate the need for filtration and maintain the seed oil at a temperature below 130 degrees F. The seed oil expeller press has a seed preheating capability and controls the pressure and extraction oil temperature by manipulation of the expeller speed, the head volume and the size of the pressed seed exit orifice. The seed oil expeller press eliminates seed rotation within the head volume so as to eliminate crushing, grinding or tearing of the seed by a symmetrical knifed press head. The seed oil expeller press regulates seed temperature, seed feed rate, seed pressure, seed rotation and extracted seed oil temperature so as to compensate for the seed size, seed hardness and seed oil content, so as to allow for seed compression without crushing or tearing to accomplish seed oil extraction at a low (cold press) temperature.

Herb oil pressing devices and methods are provided. The devices include a pair of closable opposed jaws that can apply pressure to a herb placed between the jaws; a motor connected to the jaws for controlling the closing of the jaws, and, when closed, controlling the pressure produced between the jaws; a heater connected to the jaws for heating the jaws and herb; a housing in which the jaws, the motor, and the heater are housed; and a user interface connected to the jaws and the heater, the user interface for inputting a selection of temperature, pressure, and amount of time the temperature and pressure is applied to a herb positioned between the jaws to extract oil therefrom. Related computer-implemented methods of pressing a herb are also provided.

A system includes an algae bioreactor that contains an algae slurry, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the algae bioreactor to receive the algae slurry from the algae bioreactor and heat and increase a pressure of the algae slurry, and one or more valves and a flash vessel in fluid communication with a discharge of the heat exchanger to flash the algae slurry and create steam and algae biomass. A separator receives the algae biomass from the flash vessel and separates oils from the algae biomass to generate a biofuel.

Some variations provide a system for extracting a product from biomass, comprising: a process chamber having an internal volume; one or more mechanical elements configured to controllably and reversibly mechanically seal the process chamber and reduce the internal volume to mechanically compress the biomass; a fluid port in flow communication with the process chamber; and a collection sub-system in flow communication with the fluid port. Other variations provide a method of extracting a product from biomass, the method comprising: introducing biomass into a process chamber; mechanically sealing the process chamber; mechanically compressing the biomass to release a first fluid material; mechanically decompressing the biomass; introducing an extraction solvent into the process chamber; maintaining process-chamber pressure from about 1 bar to about 1000 bar, wherein the extraction solvent extracts a second fluid material; and recovering the second fluid material from the process chamber. High processing throughput is enabled with this invention.

The invention relates to an integrated process for the eco-sustainable production of extra virgin olive oil and solid by-products rich in polyphenols, according to the principles of the circular economy. The multifunctional process starts from Olea europaea L., and produces an extra virgin olive oil (EVO) with a high content of hydroxytyrosol and derivatives, and wherein the stoned and de-oiled olive pomace leaving the mill from a two-phase controlled process, is directly transformed into a powder product useful in the food and nutraceutical field, with a high content of antioxidant active principles.

Even the leaves and apical twigs resulting from the olive harvest are treated directly in the mill to obtain a standardized powder product in the content of oleuropein, the bitter active ingredient of the fruit, a cardioprotective molecule with an antioxidant character.

The invention relates to an integrated process for the eco-sustainable production of extra virgin olive oil and solid by-products rich in polyphenols, according to the principles of the circular economy. The multifunctional process starts from Olea europaea L., and produces an extra virgin olive oil (EVO) with a high content of hydroxytyrosol and derivatives, and wherein the stoned and de-oiled olive pomace leaving the mill from a two-phase controlled process, is directly transformed into a powder product useful in the food and nutraceutical field, with a high content of antioxidant active principles.

Even the leaves and apical twigs resulting from the olive harvest are treated directly in the mill to obtain a standardized powder product in the content of oleuropein, the bitter active ingredient of the fruit, a cardioprotective molecule with an antioxidant character.

The present invention discloses a method for co-production and processing of biological energy sources by oil crops, and belongs to the technical fields of oleochemical industry and biomass chemical industry. The method comprises the following steps: husking and drying oil crop seeds to obtain husks of which the moisture content is 5%-12% and oil seeds of which the moisture content is 30%-55%; squeezing and extracting the obtained oil seeds to obtain vegetable oil and oil seed meal; performing esterification reaction on the vegetable oil and alcohol to be separated to obtain bio-diesel and crude glycerol; performing cooking treatment on the husks and/or the oil seed meal in the crude glycerol to be separated to obtain oil crude cellulose and glycerol treating liquid; performing microbial fermentation or anaerobic digestion on the oil crude cellulose and the glycerol treating liquid respectively to obtain biological energy sources or bio-based chemicals. The present invention adopts bio-refining type recycling of industrial oil crops to realize efficient co-production of biological energy sources and obviously increase the utilization rate of biomass raw materials in agriculture and forestry.

The present invention relates, inter alia, to vegetative plant parts, such as from a Sorghum sp. and/or a Zea mays plant, which comprise a total fatty acid (TFA) content which comprises fatty acids esterified in the form of triacylglycerols (TAG) and fatty acids in the form of lipids other than TAG, wherein the vegetative plant parts comprise greatly increased levels of TFA, for example a TFA content of about 5% (w/w dry weight). The present invention also relates to the use of the vegetative plant parts as a feedstuff, and/or to produce a feedstuff, for animal consumption.

The present invention relates, inter alia, to vegetative plant parts, such as from a Sorghum sp. and/or a Zea mays plant, which comprise a total fatty acid (TFA) content which comprises fatty acids esterified in the form of triacylglycerols (TAG) and fatty acids in the form of lipids other than TAG, wherein the vegetative plant parts comprise greatly increased levels of TFA, for example a TFA content of about 5% (w/w dry weight). The present invention also relates to the use of the vegetative plant parts as a feedstuff, and/or to produce a feedstuff, for animal consumption.

Provided herein are methods of recovering oil from microorganisms. The methods are useful, for example, in obtaining nutritional oils and/or lipid biofuels. The methods of recovering oil described herein include contacting a population of microorganisms with one or more enzymes under conditions that cause disruption of the microorganisms, concentrating the disrupted microorganisms, and extracting lipids from the disrupted microorganisms at high temperature in the presence of a salt and in the absence of solvent.