Coagulation-membrane filtration of Chlorella vulgaris
Journal
Bioresource Technology
Journal Volume
108
Pages
184-189
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
Filtration-based separation of Chlorella vulgaris, a species with excellent potential for CO 2 capture and lipid production, was investigated using a surface-modified hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane. Coagulation using polyaluminum chloride (PACl) attained maximum turbidity removal at 200mgL -1 as Al 2O 3. The membrane filtration flux at 1bar increased as the PACl dose increased, regardless of overdosing in the coagulation stage. The filtered cake at the end of filtration tests peaked in solid content at 10mgL -1 as Al 2O 3, reaching 34% w/w, roughly two times that of the original suspension. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests demonstrate that the cake with minimum water-solid binding strength produced the driest filter cake. Coagulation using 10mgL -1 PACl as Al 2O 3, followed by PTFE membrane filtration at 1bar, is an effective process for harvesting C. vulgaris from algal froth. ? 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
Subjects
Harvesting
Microalgae
Polyaluminum chloride
Polytetrafluoroethylene membrane
Type
journal article