METHOD OF ASH REMOVAL FROM A BIOMASS

1 . A process of reducing the ash content from a biomass feedstock or a biomass fraction of an aquatic species comprising:

providing the biomass;

lysing the biomass to generate a lysed biomass;

treating the biomass with an alcohol and a catalyst to generate a reaction mixture;

separating the reaction mixture into a solid phase and a liquid phase; and

recovering reagents by collecting the solids and distillating the liquids,

wherein the ash content of the biomass is reduced by at least 40%.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the providing step comprises:

producing the biomass fraction of an aquatic species on an industrial scale; and

harvesting the biomass.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the lysed biomass comprises a protein fraction, a carbohydrate fraction, a lipid-depleted carbohydrate fraction, a substantially lipid-free carbohydrate fraction, or a lipid fraction derived from the biomass feedstock.

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aquatic species comprises at least one species of Lemna.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises at least one acid.

6 . The process of claim 5 , wherein the acid comprises at least one of HBr, HCl, HCN, HF, and H 2 S.

7 . The process of claim 5 , wherein the acid comprises an organic acid, comprising at least one of formic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, and glycolic acid.

8 . The process of claim 5 , wherein the acid is nitric acid.

9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the alcohol comprises at least one of methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, nonanol, and decanol.

10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the separating step comprises pressing the lysed biomass to generate a juice.

11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the separating step comprises centrifugation of the mixture.

12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the recovering step comprises phase separation and fractional distillation.

13 . The process of claim 10 , further comprising:

mixing a material selected comprising at least one of the solid phase and the juice, with an alcohol and a catalyst to form a mixture;

further separating the mixture into a liquid fraction and a solid fraction;

whereby lipids and ash-forming components in the material are segregated into the liquid.

14 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the solid phase comprises at least one of:

a first solid phase generated from lysing the biomass and pressing the lysed biomass to yield a juice and first solid phase;

a second solid phase generated from filtering the juice to yield a filtered juice and a second solid phase; and

a third solid phase generated from clarifying the filtered juice to yield a clarified juice and third solid phase.

15 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the further separating step comprises:

subjecting the mixture to centrifugation;

collecting the solid fraction; and

recovering reagents by distillating the liquid fraction.

16 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the centrifugation is performed at about 3500 rpm.

17 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the centrifugation is performed at about 4000 rpm.

18 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the centrifugation is performed at about 4500 rpm.

19 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the centrifugation is performed for a duration of about 15 minutes.

20 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the centrifugation is performed for a duration of about 20 minutes.

21 . The process of claim 15 , wherein the centrifugation is performed for a duration of about 30 minutes.

22 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising a removing step to reduce ash-forming components of the biomass prior to the separating step of the process, wherein the removing step comprises:

adding the mixture to a decanting apparatus;

spinning the mixture at high speed in the decanting apparatus;

generating a solid mass retained within the decanting apparatus that is substantially freed of lipids and ash-forming components;

collecting a separated liquid that is forced through holes of the decanting apparatus and contains lipids and ash-forming components, and

further processing the separated liquid to remove ash-forming components.

23 . The process of claim 10 , further comprising a removing step to reduce ash-forming components from the juice generated from the pressing step of the process, wherein the removing step comprises:

adding the mixture to a decanting apparatus;

spinning the mixture at high speed in the decanting apparatus;

generating a solid mass retained within the decanting apparatus that is substantially freed of lipids and ash-forming components;

collecting a separated liquid that is forced through holes of the decanting apparatus and contains lipids and ash-forming components, and

further processing the separated liquid to remove ash-forming components.

24 . The process of claim 22 , wherein the mixture is generated at elevated temperature or pressure.

25 . The process of claim 24 , wherein the elevated temperature is about 70° C.

26 . The process of claim 24 , wherein the elevated temperature is about 80° C.

27 . The process of claim 24 , wherein the elevated temperature is about 90° C.

28 . The process of claim 24 , wherein the elevated pressure is about 10 psig.

29 . The process of claim 24 , wherein the elevated pressure is about 15 psig.

30 . The process of claim 24 , wherein the mixture is generated at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.

31 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising adding a protease enzyme to the solid fraction or solids.

32 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the recovering step comprises:

subjecting the liquid fraction to a filter press;

adding water to the lysed biomass;

sonicating the lysed biomass; and

adding carbohydrate enzymes to the lysed biomass individually or in combination.

33 . The process of claim 32 , further comprising subjecting the liquid phase or the solid phase to chromatography and solubilizing protein.

34 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the treating step comprises a transesterification process.

35 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising a leaching step, comprising:

suspending the biocrude in a solution selected from the group consisting of water and dilute acid for at least 20 hours to generate a mixture;

subjecting the mixture to a filtering system;

washing the mixture by adding water to the mixture and removing water or dilute acid; and

drying the mixture to generate a biocrude with reduced ash content.

36 . A system of reducing the ash content from a biomass feedstock or of a biomass fraction of an aquatic species comprising:

a reaction chamber suitable to facilitate a reaction among the biomass feedstock, an alcohol, and a catalyst;

a vessel connected to the reaction chamber via a closable fluid connection;

a lysing unit for lysing the biomass to generate a lysed biomass;

a separating unit for separating the lysed biomass to generate a juice and a solid phase;

a separator adapted to separate the unreacted alcohol from the reaction product;

wherein processing the biomass in the system results in at least 40% reduction of the ash content of the biomass.

37 . The system of claim 33 , further comprising:

a first belt filter to facilitate separating a mother liquor and salts from the reaction among the biomass feedstock, the alcohol, and the catalyst;

a second belt filter to facilitate addition of wash water and removal of water and dilute acid;

a third belt filter to facilitate addition of wash water and removal of water and dilute acid;

a fourth belt filter to facilitate addition of wash water and ammonia and removal of the filtrate;

a fifth belt filter to facilitate addition of wash water and further removal of filtrate to generate a product; and

a dryer to further process the product.