System and process for production of biofuels

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a process for treating an organic feedstock is disclosed. The organic feedstock including a convertible component is preprocessed to increase the concentration of the convertible component. The organic feedstock is processed to convert at least a portion of the convertible component to a fuel and the fuel is extracted from the organic feedstock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process comprising:
 preprocessing an organic feedstock comprising a convertible component to increase the concentration of the convertible component;   processing the organic feedstock to convert at least a portion of the convertible component to a fuel; and   extracting the fuel from the organic feedstock.   
     
     
         2 . The process as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the process is continuous. 
     
     
         3 . The process as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the convertible component is algae. 
     
     
         4 . The process as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the concentration of algae is increased to greater than or equal to 30% by weight of the organic feedstock. 
     
     
         5 . The process as recited in  claim 1 , wherein preprocessing comprises heating the organic feedstock. 
     
     
         6 . The process as recited in  claim 5 , wherein heating the organic feedstock comprises heating the organic feedstock in a heat exchanger and a heater. 
     
     
         7 . The process as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the heat exchanger heats the organic feedstock to a temperature of 55° C. and the heater heats the organic feedstock to a temperature of 75° C. 
     
     
         8 . The process as recited in  claim 1 , wherein processing the organic feedstock comprises pressurizing and heating the organic feedstock. 
     
     
         9 . The process as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the organic feedstock is pressurized to a pressure between 100-350 bar and heated to a temperature between 250-400° C. 
     
     
         10 . The process as recited in  claim 1 , wherein extracting the fuel from the organic feedstock comprises contacting the organic feedstock with a solvent. 
     
     
         11 . The process as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the solvent is at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of: hexane, kerosene, ethylene, propylene, butene-1, ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, pentane, heptane, octane, 2,2-dimethylbutane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, 2,2-dimethylheptane, 2,5-dimethylhexane, 2,2-dimethylpentane, 2,3-dimethylpentane, 2,4-dimethylpentane, 3,3-dimethylpentane, 3-ethylpentane, hexamethylethane, 2-methylbutane, 2-methylhexane, 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, cyclohexane, methylcyclopentane, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene hexene-1, heptene-1, octene-1, nonene-1, decene-1,4-methyl-1-pentene benzene, toluene and xylene. 
     
     
         12 . The process as recited in  claim 10 , wherein contacting the organic feedstock with a solvent comprises contacting the organic feedstock with the solvent in a column facilitating countercurrent flow between the organic feedstock and solvent. 
     
     
         13 . The process as recited in  claim 1 , wherein extracting the fuel from the organic feedstock comprises at least one separation process selected from the group consisting of: distillation, settling, membrane filtration, decantation, centrifugation, ion exchange, drying, evaporation and vacuum distillation. 
     
     
         14 . The process as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising adding at least one additive to the feedstock. 
     
     
         15 . The process as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the additive is at least one additive selected from the group consisting of: calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, calcium salt, hydroxides and bicarbonates.