Method for the extraction of bio-oil from algal biomass

1. Method for the extraction of bio-oil from an algal biomass comprising the following stages:

i) preparation of a deep eutectic solvent (DES) consisting of admixing of one or more quaternary salt compounds and one or more hydrogen bonding donor compounds;

ii) provision of the algal biomass;

iii) treatment of the algal biomass with a solvent consisting of the deep eutectic solvent of stage i); wherein the deep eutectic solvent is an extraction solvent, wherein the algal mass is treated with a quantity of the deep eutectic solvent of stage i) between 1:1 and 5:1 in relation to the algal mass and agitated for a period of between ½ hour and two hours at temperatures between 80° C. and 130° C. to form a liquid phase that includes a solid residue therein;

iv) separation of the solid residue from the liquid phase by filtration or centrifugation forming a remaining liquid phase including an extracted bio oil;

v) treatment of the remaining liquid phase obtained in stage (iv) with a countersolvent and separation of an oil phase including the bio-oil and having a low content of phospholipids and inorganic salts; and

vi) drying to yield the bio-oil.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the deep eutectic solvent is selected from type III deep eutectic solvents.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more quaternary salt compounds of the deep eutectic solvent is selected from the group consisting of choline chloride, choline acetate, choline nitrate, betaine chloride, ethyl ammonium chloride, and tetramethylammonium chloride; and wherein the one or more hydrogen bonding donors of the deep eutectic solvent is selected from a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, formic acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, and levulinic acid; an amine selected from the group consisting of urea, thiourea, 1,3-dimethylurea, and 1,1-dimethylurea; or a polyalcohol selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerol.

4. Method according to claim 1 , in which the algae used belong to the genera Nannochloropsis, Chlorella , or Tetraselmis.

5. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the algal biomass is a wet algal biomass.

6. Method according to claim 1 , wherein drying is carried out using low pressure steam as an energy source.

7. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the treated algal mass obtained in stage (iii) is filtered, wherein the solid residue is separated out and the remaining liquid phase in which the deep extraction solvent is dissolved is treated in stage (v) with a quantity of the counter-solvent to produce a first organic phase including a bio-oil insoluble, wherein the first organic phase is a liquid and is added to a quantity of the deep extraction solvent in a weight ratio of between 100% and 300% by weight to form a bio-oil solution, and wherein the bio-oil solution is agitated at ambient temperature and a second, supernatant organic phase with the bio-oil is separated out.

8. Method according to claim 7 , wherein the counter-solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, ethanol, and mixtures thereof.

9. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the oil phase obtained after addition of the counter-solvent in stage v) in which the counter-solvent is dissolved is separated out and the counter-solvent is removed by distillation, while the deep extraction solvent is recycled.

10. Method for the production of diesel fuel, comprising extracting a bio-oil from an algal biomass according to claim 1 , and further including a step of subjecting the bio-oil to a hydrogenation step with a metal catalyst and to isomerization.

11. Method of production according to claim 10 , wherein the bio-oil undergoes a catalytic hydrogenation reaction in a first step, in which triglycerides of fatty acids are converted into alkanes and water while glycerines present in the triglycerides are hydrogenated to propane; and further comprising a second step of the process in which the alkanes obtained by hydrogenation of the fatty acids are isomerised on a solid acid catalyst yielding branched alkanes as bio components for diesel fuel.

12. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the algal biomass is dry algal biomass.