Sustainable Microalgal Harvesting Process Applying Opuntia cochenillifera: Process Parameters Optimization
Source abstract
Abstract
Microalgae harvesting by coagulation can use coagulant agents such as alum, synthetic polymers or biocoagulants. Biocoagulants have attracted the attention of researchers because they are natural, biodegradable, and promote high microalgal harvesting efficiencies. This study aims to optimize the harvesting of Chlorella vulgaris based on the dosage of the Opuntia cochenillifera extract and the choice of eluent for biopolymer extraction. The outdoor cultivation of C. vulgaris achieved a specific growth rate of 0.455 d−1 and a maximum biomass concentration of 1.28 gDW L−1. In order to harvest the microalgal biomass, the polymer present in the mucilage of O. cochenillifera was extracted using NaOH and HCl. Coagulation and sedimentation assays were performed with different coagulant dosages: 3.5, 5.9, and 8.2 g L−1. The maximum harvesting efficiencies using the acid and alkaline extract coagulant solutions were 80.8% and 99.5%, respectively, with a dosage of 3.5 g L−1. According to the results, the C. vulgaris biomass can be harvested with the mucilage from O. cochenillifera in acid and alkaline eluents. The application of this biocoagulant constitutes a sustainable solution for microalgal harvesting.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Algal biology and biofuel production · Botanical Research and Applications
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
LABAM—Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Federal University of Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Jd. Rosa Elze, São Cristóvão-Se 49100-000, Brazil
LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
ALiCE—Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Funding
The Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory—LABAM from Federal University of Sergipe—Brazil · ALiCE · LEPABE · Project PhotoBioValue · FCT PhD Research Scholarships
References (39)
Show source-provided references
1. Microalgae polysaccharides: The new sustainable bioactive products for the development of plant bio-stimulants?10.1007/s11274-019-2745-3 ↗
2. New trends in biotechnological applications of photosynthetic microorganisms10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107988 ↗
3. Biological importance of marine algae10.1016/j.jsps.2009.12.001 ↗
4. Progress in microalgae application for CO2 sequestration10.1016/j.clce.2022.100044 ↗
5. Continuous cultivation of microalgae in photobioreactors as a source of renewable energy: Current status and future challenges10.1016/j.rser.2021.111852 ↗
6. High-value biochemical products & applications of freshwater eukaryotic microalgae10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151111 ↗
7. A review on flocculation as an efficient method to harvest energy microalgae: Mechanisms, performances, influencing factors and perspectives10.1016/j.rser.2020.110005 ↗
8. Mass cultivation and harvesting of microalgal biomass: Current trends and future perspectives10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126406 ↗
9. Microalgae biomass concentration and reuse of water as new cultivation medium using ceramic membrane filtration10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135724 ↗
10. Harvesting microalgae by magnetic separation: A review10.1016/j.algal.2015.03.005 ↗
11. Pilot-scale microalgae harvesting with ceramic microfiltration modules: Evaluating the effect of operational parameters and membrane configuration on filtration performance and membrane fouling10.1002/jctb.6573 ↗
12. Recent progress in flocculation, dewatering, and drying technologies for microalgae utilization: Scalable and low-cost harvesting process development10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126404 ↗
13. Potential of microalgae cultivation using nutrient-rich wastewater and harvesting performance by biocoagulants/bioflocculants: Mechanism, multi-conversion of biomass into valuable products, and future challenges10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132806 ↗
14. Biocoagulant with frother properties for harvesting Invasive microalgae colonies from the eutrophicated system10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c00365 ↗
15. Exploring the extraction methods for plant-based coagulants and their future approaches10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151668 ↗
16. Emerging usage of plant-based coagulants for water and wastewater treatment10.1016/j.procbio.2010.05.030 ↗
17. Moringa oleifera seed defatted press cake based biocoagulant for the treatment of coal beneficiation plant effluent10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113202 ↗
18. Harvesting microalgae grown on wastewater10.1016/j.biortech.2013.04.002 ↗
19. Bio-based flocculants for sustainable harvesting of microalgae for biofuel production. A review10.1016/j.rser.2020.110690 ↗
20. Assessment of feasibility of natural coagulants in turbidity removal and modeling of coagulation process10.1080/19443994.2013.816875 ↗
21. Generic assignments, strain histories and properties of pure cultures of cyanobacteria10.1099/00221287-111-1-1 ↗
22. Regression-based spatial GIS analysis for an accurate assessment of renewable energy potential10.1016/j.esd.2022.06.003 ↗
23. Rice, E., Baird, R., and Eaton, A. (2017). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, Water Environment Federation (WEF). [23rd ed.].
24. A kinetic model of heterotrophic and mixotrophic cultivation of the potential biofuel organism microalgae Chlorella Sorokiniana10.1016/j.algal.2022.102701 ↗
25. Strategy for the cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris with high biomass production and biofuel potential in wastewater from the oil industry10.1016/j.eti.2021.102204 ↗
26. Estudo da eficiência de polímero natural extraído do cacto mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru) como auxiliar nos processos de coagulação e floculação no tratamento de água
27. Anaerobic digested effluent phycoremediation by microalgae co-culture and harvesting by Moringa oleifera as natural coagulant10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126042 ↗
28. Factors governing microalgae harvesting efficiency by flocculation using cationic polymers10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125669 ↗
29. Assessment and mechanisms of microalgae growth inhibition by phosphonates: Effects of intrinsic toxicity and complexation10.1016/j.watres.2020.116333 ↗
30. Effect of growth conditions on cell wall composition and cadmium adsorption in Chlorella vulgaris: A new approach to biosorption research10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125059 ↗
31. Kinetic characteristics and modeling of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris growth and CO2 biofixation considering the coupled effects of light intensity and dissolved inorganic carbon10.1016/j.biortech.2016.01.087 ↗
32. Growth and lipid accumulation characteristics of Scenedesmus obliquus in semi-continuous cultivation outdoors for biodiesel feedstock production10.1016/j.biortech.2014.09.123 ↗
33. Synergy between membrane filtration and flocculation for harvesting microalgae10.1016/j.seppur.2020.116603 ↗
34. Effect of pH on growth and lipid accumulation kinetics of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris grown heterotrophically under sulfur limitation10.1016/j.biortech.2016.08.033 ↗
35. Flocculation properties of eight microalgae induced by aluminum chloride, chitosan, amphoteric polyacrylamide, and alkaline: Life-cycle assessment for screening species and harvesting methods10.1016/j.algal.2021.102226 ↗
36. Green coagulants recovering Scenedesmus obliquus: An optimization study10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127881 ↗
37. Natural plant extracts as an economical and ecofriendly alternative for harvesting microalgae10.1016/j.biortech.2019.03.070 ↗
38. Elucidation the influence of design variables on coagulation–flocculation mechanisms in the lab-scale bio-coagulation on toxic industrial effluent treatment10.1016/j.envres.2022.113224 ↗
39. A review on mechanical-based microalgae harvesting methods for biofuel production10.1016/j.biombioe.2022.106348 ↗