University of Texas System

Teco-westinghouse Motor Company

Organic Fuels Algae Technologies, LLC

Robert Hebner

Michael D Werst

Kent R Davey

Peter B Kipp

Frank Seibert

Martin Poenie

Rhykka L Connelly

Xueqing Feng

Lynn E Katz

Kerry A Kinney

Robert Pearsall

Jim Weldon

Rotors with trapped-field magnet (TFM) bulks, machines with TFM rotors, and methods of activating and/or using machines with TFM rotors.

Rotating machines using trapped field magnets and related methods

The development and application of a novel non-polar oil recovery process utilizing a non-dispersive solvent extraction method to coalesce and recover oil from a bio-cellular aqueous slurry is described herein. The process could apply to recovery of algal oil from a lysed or non-lysed algae slurry, recovery of Omega fatty acids from a bio-cellular aqueous feed, recovery of Beta-carotene from a bio-cellular aqueous feed and for the removal from produced water in oil production and similar type applications. The technique of the present invention utilizes a microporous hollow fiber (MHF) membrane contactor. The non-polar oil recovery process described herein can be coupled to a collecting fluid (a non-polar solvent such as heptane, a biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil) that is circulated through the hollow fiber membrane. In cases where the biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil is used the solvent recovery step (e.g. distillation) can be eliminated.

Non-dispersive process for insoluble oil recovery from aqueous slurries

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Robert Hebner