An apparatus and a method for crystallization and supercritical drying of culture solution are provided.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus for crystallization and supercritical drying of culture solution to obtain target material by drying a culture solution containing a first solvent and the target material dissolved in the first solvent comprises a high pressure container to accommodate the culture solution, a first supply unit connected to the high pressure container to supply a second solvent to the high pressure container, a second supply unit connected to the high pressure container to supply a third solvent to the high pressure container, a precooler disposed adjacent to the first supply unit to precool the second solvent discharged from the first supply unit, and a preheater disposed adjacent to the high pressure container to preheat the second solvent and the third solvent supplied to the high pressure container.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, a method for crystallization and supercritical drying of culture solution to obtain target material by drying a culture solution containing a first solvent and the target material dissolved in the first solvent comprises crystallizing the target material by replacing the first solvent with a second solvent in the culture solution, and changing a phase of the second solvent to a supercritical phase.

The invention relates to a method for the simultaneous production of a solid transformation product of the substrate and crude ethanol comprising the following steps: •preparing a substrate from milled or flaked biomass comprising proteinaceous matter which originates from soya bean, rape seed, or mixtures thereof, optionally in further mixture with proteinaceous matter originating from fava beans, peas, sunflower seeds, lupine, cereals, and/or grasses, •mixing said substrate with live yeast in a dry matter ratio of from 1:1 to 10,000:1 and adding water in an amount which provides a ratio of wet bulk density to dry bulk density from 0.60 to 1.45 in the resulting mixture; •incubating said mixture for 1-48 hours at a temperature of about 20-60° C.; and •separating crude ethanol and wet solid transformation product from said mixture; further comprising that the incubation is performed as a continuous plug-flow process in a vertical, non-agitated, closed incubation tank with inlet means for said mixture and additives and outlet means for the solid transformation product and crude ethanol. The invention further relates to the products of this method as well as uses thereof.

The present disclosure relates to a process for electrostatic spray drying of a living microorganism, the process comprising the following steps: a. Providing a suspension, comprising a number of components, including a microorganism, a solvent and an additive; b. Applying an electrostatic charge to said suspension; c. Forming droplets of said suspension; d. Drying said droplets, thereby forming dried particles; and e. (Optionally) collecting the dried particles.

Systems and methods for fractionating whole stillage from an ethanol production facility are provided. Whole stillage undergoes a separation of its liquid portion (thin stillage) from the solid portion (fiber cake). In some embodiments, the solids and liquids in whole stillage may be separated utilizing a screening centrifuge. The fiber cake may be dried to generate a high fiber animal feed. The thin stillage may be provided to a three-phase separator for separation into an oil emulsion, an aqueous clarified stillage, and a protein paste. The protein paste may be dried to generate a high protein animal feed with greater than about 45% protein content. The clarified thin stillage is condensed to yield a syrup with greater than around 60% solids. The oil emulsion is subjected to a pH adjustment to liberate the oil from the emulsion, which is then separated.

Systems and methods for fractionating whole stillage from an ethanol production facility are provided. Whole stillage undergoes a separation of its liquid portion (thin stillage) from the solid portion (fiber cake). In some embodiments, the solids and liquids in whole stillage may be separated utilizing a screening centrifuge. The fiber cake may be dried to generate a high fiber animal feed. The thin stillage may be provided to a three-phase separator for separation into an oil emulsion, an aqueous clarified stillage, and a protein paste. The protein paste may be dried to generate a high protein animal feed with greater than about 45% protein content. The clarified thin stillage is condensed to yield a syrup with greater than around 60% solids. The oil emulsion is subjected to a pH adjustment to liberate the oil from the emulsion, which is then separated.

A microalgae culture broth producing system includes a device for culture broth sterilization using a micro bubble generator, an air compression and pressure equalization device for the injection of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere into the culture broth. The system also includes an air chilling device to maintain suitable culture broth temperature when water temperature is too high, an automatic carbon dioxide supply device to promote photosynthesis, and a sealed vertical photobioreactor to block out pollutants and increase dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen concentration. The system further includes a high-efficiency harvesting device using hollow fiber membranes, and a hot air drying device using the waste heat generated by air compression.

Systems and methods for algae processing and, more particularly, to systems and methods for having integrated solar steam systems. Trapped heated air accumulated within the solar steam system, such as a greenhouse-enclosed solar steam system, is swept over a cultivated algae slurry in order to facilitate drying thereof and increasing the thermal efficiency of a biofuel algae facility.

A microalgae culture broth producing system includes a device for culture broth sterilization using a micro bubble generator, an air compression and pressure equalization device for the injection of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere into the culture broth. The system also includes an air chilling device to maintain suitable culture broth temperature when water temperature is too high, an automatic carbon dioxide supply device to promote photosynthesis, and a sealed vertical photobioreactor to block out pollutants and increase dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen concentration. The system further includes a high-efficiency harvesting device using hollow fiber membranes, and a hot air drying device using the waste heat generated by air compression.

The present invention relates to an improved method for preservation of e.g. microorganisms, especially lactic acid bacteria, said method includes spray freezing.

An apparatus and method for dehydrating biological materials, such as vaccines and microorganism cultures, in which the materials are dehydrated in an evacuated container which is in a microwave waveguide that is open to the atmosphere. The apparatus comprises means for freezing the container of biological material, a microwave generator, a waveguide, means for introducing the container into the waveguide, means for applying a vacuum to the container and means for removing the dehydrated material from the waveguide. In the method of the invention, the container of biological material is put in a microwave waveguide open to the atmosphere, a vacuum is applied to the container, the material is frozen and is radiated to dehydrate it. The dehydrated material is then removed from the waveguide.