Pressurized low polarity water extraction apparatus and methods of use
An apparatus for extraction and recovery of components from biomass feedstocks with pressurized low polarity water. The apparatus is configured with two or more reaction columns, each separately communicating with sources of pressurized water, pressurized heated water, and pressurized cooling water. Components are extracted from the biomass by separately flooding the column with pressurized water, heating the column and its contents to the point where the water becomes pressurized low polarity (PLP) water, recovering the PLP water comprising the extracted components, cooling the column with PLP water, and removing the spent biomass material from the column.
1. An apparatus for extracting and recovering components from a biomass feedstock with pressurized low polarity water, comprising:
two or more reaction columns, each column separately communicating with: (i) a supply of heated water, (ii) a supply of heated pressurized water, and (iii) a supply of cooled pressurized water, each column having an outlet for egressing a liquids product flow;
a pump for pressurizing each of said reaction columns;
a plurality of valves cooperating with each of said reaction columns and said pumps to: (iv) pressurize each of said reaction columns to a selected pressure, (v) to maintain the selected pressure in each of said reaction columns for a selected time period, and (vi) to release pressure in each of said pressurized reaction columns;
a collection vessel for receiving the liquids product flow from each of said columns during a period of time when each of said columns is pressurized; and
additionally comprising a vessel for receiving a waste water flow egressing from each of said reaction columns after each of said columns has been de-pressurized.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , additionally comprising one or more water treatment apparatus for receiving and purifying therein the waste water flow.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , additionally comprising an apparatus for processing the purified water by one or more of heating and pH adjustment.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , additionally comprising a reservoir for storing a portion of the purified water.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , additionally comprising a reservoir for storing a portion of the waste water flow.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , additionally comprising one or more collection vessels for sequentially receiving therein the liquids product flow from each of said columns during a period of time when each of said columns is pressurized.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the supply of heated water comprises a piping infrastructure communicating with a source of water, at least one heat exchanger, at least one heater, and a back pressure regulator for flooding each of said reaction columns with hot water and generating pressurized low polarity water.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the supply of heated water comprises a piping infrastructure communicating with a source of water, at least one heat exchanger, at least one heater, and a back pressure regulator for warming each of said reaction columns to a selected temperature.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the supply of heated pressurized water supply comprises a piping infrastructure communicating with a source of water, at least one heat exchanger, at least one heater, and a back pressure regulator for continuously flowing hot pressurized low polarity water through each of said reaction columns, said third piping infrastructure additionally communicating with said collection vessel.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the supply of cooled pressurized water comprises a piping infrastructure communicating with a source of water, at least one heat exchanger, at least one heater, and a back pressure regulator for cooling each of said reaction columns to a selected temperature.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , additionally comprising an automated control system communicating with the two or more reaction columns, the supply of heated water, the supply of heated pressurized water, the supply of cooled pressurized water, the pumps for pressurizing each of said reaction columns, and the plurality of valves for controllably sequentially directing the flow of water into (i) a first piping infrastructure communicating with a source of water, at least one heat exchanger, at least one heater, and a back pressure regulator for flooding each of said reaction columns with hot water and generating pressurized low polarity water, (ii) a second piping infrastructure communicating with a source of water, at least one heat exchanger, at least one heater, and a back pressure regulator for warming each of said reaction columns to a selected temperature, (iii) a third piping infrastructure communicating with a source of water, at least one heat exchanger, at least one heater, and a back pressure regulator for continuously flowing hot pressurized low polarity water through each of said reaction columns, said third piping infrastructure additionally communicating with said collection vessel, and (iv) a fourth piping infrastructure communicating with a source of water, at least one heat exchanger, at least one heater, and a back pressure regulator for cooling each of said reaction columns to a selected temperature.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the automated control system is programmable.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the automated control system can be manually operated.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , additionally comprising a manual control system communicating with the two or more reaction columns, the supply of heated water, the supply of heated pressurized water, the supply of cooled pressurized water, the pumps for pressurizing each of said reaction columns, and the plurality of valves for controllably sequentially directing the flow of water into the first piping infrastructure, the second piping infrastructure, the third piping infrastructure, and the fourth piping infrastructure.