A method and system of and for extraction or removal of phytochemicals from plants, including those of the plant family Cannabaceae sensu stricto. More specifically, a method and system for extracting essential oils from plants, such as cannabis, without the use of a solvent.

Disclosed is a process for producing a cholesterol concentrate including the steps of (a) distilling a fish oil having no more than 2% free fatty acids in an admixture with an auxiliary fluid in a vacuum distillation column to obtain a first distillate and a first residue; and (b) distilling the first distillate in a vacuum distillation column to obtain a second distillate and a second residue, wherein the second residue includes the cholesterol concentrate.

Methods for separating lean and fat from beef or other meats and the separation apparatus are disclosed. The methods use microbiocidal fluids to reduce or eliminate possible sources of contamination.

Methods and systems used to extract lipids suitable in production of biofuels from a fermentation broth may include using heat to pre-treat the fermentation broth in order to more easily extract a product from oleaginous microorganisms in the broth. Additionally or alternatively, a combination of enzymes including amylase, 1-4 mannosidase, and 1-3 mannosidase may be used to break down cell walls of the oleaginous microorganisms. Residual broth water may be recycled and used as imbibition water for washing a process feedstock to extract sugar.

Methods and systems used to extract lipids suitable in production of biofuels from a fermentation broth may include using heat to pre-treat the fermentation broth in order to more easily extract a product from oleaginous microorganisms in the broth. Additionally or alternatively, a combination of enzymes including amylase, 1-4 mannosidase, and 1-3 mannosidase may be used to break down cell walls of the oleaginous microorganisms. Residual broth water may be recycled and used as imbibition water for washing a process feedstock to extract sugar.

Various aspects of the disclosure relate to methods and systems for extracting plant oil from plant material. A system may comprise a microwave emitter, an extraction chamber, and a cooling chamber. Microwave radiation emitted by the microwave emitter may dielectrically heat a microwave absorbing agent, which may heat the plant oil of the plant material. Plant oil of the plant material may be volatized in the extraction chamber and may be directed into the cooling chamber to be condensed.

An ethanol production process and system for recovering high value oil products. The invention includes adding a heated lipid (oil) stream to a thin stillage stream to break the water/oil emulsion and free bound oil then recovering the oil. The lipid stream may be heated by use of existing process steam or other process energy source, or may be heated by the introduction of energy from an external source. The process uses oil as the heat transfer mechanism to increase both the volume and quality of the oil recovered.

An ethanol production process and system for recovering high value oil products. The invention includes adding a heated lipid (oil) stream to a thin stillage stream to break the water/oil emulsion and free bound oil then recovering the oil. The lipid stream may be heated by use of existing process steam or other process energy source, or may be heated by the introduction of energy from an external source. The process uses oil as the heat transfer mechanism to increase both the volume and quality of the oil recovered.

The present invention is directed to a pyrolysis method. The method involves providing a biomass and subjecting the biomass, in a reactor operating under conditions of parasitic heat loss of less than 1% of the biomass' chemical energy content, to partial oxidation where, during steady state operation of the reactor, oxygen is provided to the reactor in sufficient quantity to achieve an equivalence ratio of 0.06 to 0.15 to release sufficient energy to support endothermic pyrolysis reactions and produce condensable organic compounds as the major portion of the pyrolysis products.

The present invention is directed to a pyrolysis method. The method involves providing a biomass and subjecting the biomass, in a reactor operating under conditions of parasitic heat loss of less than 1% of the biomass' chemical energy content, to partial oxidation where, during steady state operation of the reactor, oxygen is provided to the reactor in sufficient quantity to achieve an equivalence ratio of 0.06 to 0.15 to release sufficient energy to support endothermic pyrolysis reactions and produce condensable organic compounds as the major portion of the pyrolysis products.