Pulse Drying Systems has conducted a series of drying product development trials on algae produced for biofuel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel) and for food and nutriceutical use. The trials were conducted for one of the leading algal companies, and covered several different end uses. Plans are underway to begin large-scale toll drying, followed by site installation of a number of pulse dryers.
The pulse dryer produces a fine, free-flowing powder with minimal degradation, and easily handles high-viscosity concentrations of algae. The dryer handles algal slurries with intact cell walls as well as those that have been ruptured to release the oil.
Other methods of drying algal slurries are freeze drying, spray drying, and drum drying; pulse drying is superior to all of these methods. Freeze drying, for instance, makes a low-degradation product, but is an expensive batch process that often requires post-drying milling to make a fine powder. Spray drying is efficient, but can rupture intact cells in its high-pressure atomization process, and generally imparts unacceptable degradation due to time/temperature considerations. Drum drying exposes the algal slurry to long periods of elevated temperatures, and produces a flake that must be milled to obtain a fine powder. By comparison, the pulse dryer makes a fine powder like the spray dryer, and, due to very rapid drying, also delivers the low-degradation characteristic of freeze drying. In short, pulse drying delivers low-cost, high-throughput powders that have very high quality. Our customers therefore produce the best products at the least cost.
Pulse Drying Systems is eager to demonstrate its technology for customers producing algal slurries that must be dried for stability, end use, extraction, or other processing. A summary of our development and commercialization processes can be found on our Getting Started page.
The best way to start evaluating pulse drying is to send an email to James A. Rehkopf, Pulse’s president, at jrehkopf@pulsedry.com. We look forward to working with you.
For more information contact:
James A. Rehkopf, President
(415) 726-3536