Disclosed are methods and systems for recovering oil from processed plant materials and by-products formed during a milling process used for producing ethanol.

A method and an plant for separating wax from a dried wax coated plant material, comprising mechanically processing the plant material in a dry process by using an apparatus adapted for deforming at least the outer surface of the plant material, so that the wax coating is cracked and released from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; separating the plant material in a separator into a portion A comprising plant material with a relatively high content of cracked and released wax coating and a relatively low content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material, and a portion B comprising respectively a relatively low content cracked and released wax coating and a relatively high content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; liquefying the wax contained in portion A, and separating the liquefied wax from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material in portion A.

A method and an plant for separating wax from a dried wax coated plant material, comprising mechanically processing the plant material in a dry process by using an apparatus adapted for deforming at least the outer surface of the plant material, so that the wax coating is cracked and released from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; separating the plant material in a separator into a portion A comprising plant material with a relatively high content of cracked and released wax coating and a relatively low content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material, and a portion B comprising respectively a relatively low content cracked and released wax coating and a relatively high content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; liquefying the wax contained in portion A, and separating the liquefied wax from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material in portion A.

Mechanism for transforming rotating to reciprocating motion, or vice versa, comprising a first annular component (1) and a second annular component (3) coaxially located, the first beside the second, along a longitudinal axis (ΔA), wherein both are able to rotate around the longitudinal axis and to reciprocate along the longitudinal axis, wherein aide (A) of the first annular component (1) adjacent to the second annular component (3) is in continuous contact, in at least one point, with the neighbouring side (Γα) of the second annular component (3), such that the second annular component (3) is able to rotate relative to the first annular component (1) in continuous contact in at least one point with the adjacent side (A) of the first annular component (1), wherein the contacting sides are undulated surfaces (A, Γα), such that if the first annular component (1) and the second annular component (3) are forced into rotational motion relative to each other, remaining the same time in continuous contact, then every point of the undulated surfaces (A, Γα) will trace, relative to the other, an undulated trajectory and at the same will also execute, relative to the other, reciprocating motion.

Disclosed is a method for producing algae-derived polyunsaturated fatty acids, comprising the steps of a) contacting dry algae with ethanol; b) removing ethanol to obtain crude oil; c) subjecting the crude oil to a transesterification reaction with a lower alcohol to generate fatty acid alkyl esters; d) extracting the fatty acid alkyl esters to result in a phase containing fatty acid alkyl esters; e) collecting the phase containing fatty acid alkyl esters; and f) contacting the collected phase with silica gel. Also disclosed is a method for effectively removing impurities, including chlorophyll, fucoxanthin and beta-carotene, from crude algal fatty acid alkyl esters, comprising contacting the crude algal fatty acid alkyl esters with silica gel in hexane.

A system for treating whole stillage includes a stillage tank, a separation system in communication with the stillage tank and configured to separate the whole stillage into a wet cake portion and a thin stillage portion, and a primary filtration system in communication with the separation system. The primary filtration system can be configured to separate the thin stillage into a primary concentrate and a primary permeate. A secondary filtration system in communication with the primary filtration system can be configured to further purify the primary permeate. A water reclamation system in communication with the primary and/or secondary filtration system can remove water from the permeate. An additive can be added to the primary permeate to precipitate phosphorus-containing minerals and corn oil can be advantageously extracted from the primary concentrate. Protein-enriched animal feeds can be generated from dehydration of the primary concentrate.

A system for treating whole stillage includes a stillage tank, a separation system in communication with the stillage tank and configured to separate the whole stillage into a wet cake portion and a thin stillage portion, and a primary filtration system in communication with the separation system. The primary filtration system can be configured to separate the thin stillage into a primary concentrate and a primary permeate. A secondary filtration system in communication with the primary filtration system can be configured to further purify the primary permeate. A water reclamation system in communication with the primary and/or secondary filtration system can remove water from the permeate. An additive can be added to the primary permeate to precipitate phosphorus-containing minerals and corn oil can be advantageously extracted from the primary concentrate. Protein-enriched animal feeds can be generated from dehydration of the primary concentrate.

An apparatus with method to conduct extractions from plant matter using liquid Butane as solvent and process quantities ranging from an eighth of an ounce to two ounces is disclosed. The apparatus is meant for individual use offering the convenience of size that allows it to be carried in a backpack, a suitcase, a handbag, a purse or a small bag. It is designed to be operated safely almost anywhere by almost anyone following a few simple instructions without requiring to be versed in the art of extractions using liquid Butane in commercial equipment. The risk of fire is minimized to the risk of using a common cigarette lighter due to the small volume of liquid Butane required to operate the extractor.

An apparatus with method to conduct extractions from plant matter using liquid Butane as solvent and process quantities ranging from an eighth of an ounce to two ounces is disclosed. The apparatus is meant for individual use offering the convenience of size that allows it to be carried in a backpack, a suitcase, a handbag, a purse or a small bag. It is designed to be operated safely almost anywhere by almost anyone following a few simple instructions without requiring to be versed in the art of extractions using liquid Butane in commercial equipment. The risk of fire is minimized to the risk of using a common cigarette lighter due to the small volume of liquid Butane required to operate the extractor.

A method for applying a chemical treatment to a process stream in an ethanol production/corn oil extraction system. The method includes applying the chemical treatment to the process stream before or during fermentation of an emulsified oil precursor product in the process stream to demulsify the emulsified oil precursor product, and extracting the demulsified oil from the emulsified oil precursor product.