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International Journal of Environmental Research
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Volume Volume 10 (2016)
Issue Issue 4
Autumn 2016, Page 471-666
Issue Issue 3
Summer 2016, Page 357-470
Issue Issue 2
Spring 2016, Page 203-356
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Winter 2016, Page 1-202
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Vera Morales, J., Ramirez Romero, L., Vanthoor-Koopmans, M. (2016). Flocculation of Microalgae via pH Change in a Turbulent Medium and Subsequent Filtration. International Journal of Environmental Research, 10(4), 593-600. doi: 10.22059/ijer.2016.59904
J. M. Vera Morales; L. A. Ramirez Romero; M. Vanthoor-Koopmans. "Flocculation of Microalgae via pH Change in a Turbulent Medium and Subsequent Filtration". International Journal of Environmental Research, 10, 4, 2016, 593-600. doi: 10.22059/ijer.2016.59904
Vera Morales, J., Ramirez Romero, L., Vanthoor-Koopmans, M. (2016). 'Flocculation of Microalgae via pH Change in a Turbulent Medium and Subsequent Filtration', International Journal of Environmental Research, 10(4), pp. 593-600. doi: 10.22059/ijer.2016.59904
Vera Morales, J., Ramirez Romero, L., Vanthoor-Koopmans, M. Flocculation of Microalgae via pH Change in a Turbulent Medium and Subsequent Filtration. International Journal of Environmental Research, 2016; 10(4): 593-600. doi: 10.22059/ijer.2016.59904

Flocculation of Microalgae via pH Change in a Turbulent Medium and Subsequent Filtration

Article 14, Volume 10, Issue 4, Autumn 2016, Page 593-600  XML PDF (302.2 K)
Document Type: Original Research Paper
DOI: 10.22059/ijer.2016.59904
Authors
J. M. Vera Morales email 1; L. A. Ramirez Romero2; M. Vanthoor-Koopmans1
1Engineering Faculty, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico
2Chemistry Faculty, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico
Abstract
Traditional microalgae harvesting techniques consume a lot of energy. Flocculation, or the formation of aggregates, is an energetically favorable process to collect biomass. Flocculation is normally carried in tanks to allow the formation of the aggregates after stirring, however, this consumes time and physical resources. In this work, flocculation of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus sp. by acidification and alkalization was compared to chemical flocculation in a turbulent medium for short periods of time (30 seconds and 2 minutes). Flocculation with potassium hydroxide at pH=10 showed to be nearly as efficient as traditional flocculation by using ferric sulphatum after two minutes. Acid flocculation with nitric acid was not as effective, even at values of pH=4. Flocculation by pH does not generate toxic wastes and the remaining added flocculants turn into nutrients after harvesting. After flocculation and neutralization, the remaining cells in the medium were viable to recultivate. Since pH-driven flocculation does not allow harvesting the total microalgae culture, remaining cells can be used to keep growing. Based on these results a semi continuous harvesting method incorporated in the microalgae growing phase seems promising.
Keywords
Chlorella vulgaris; aggregation; harvesting; Continuous culture; alkaline medium
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