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Vibrating membrane filtration as improved technology for microalgae dewatering
Claudia Nurra1, Ester Clavero2, Joan Salvadó1
1Bioenergy and Biofuels Division, Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, IREC, C/Marcel·lí Domingo, 2, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain; Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
Vibrating membrane filtration significantly improves microalgae dewatering efficiency compared to conventional methods. This dynamic filtration technique enhances permeability, offering a more effective solution for concentrating microalgae biomass.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Microalgae are crucial for biofuels and high-value products.
- Efficient dewatering is essential for cost-effective microalgae cultivation.
- Conventional filtration methods face challenges with fouling and low throughput.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate vibrating membrane filtration (dynamic filtration) for microalgae dewatering.
- To compare its technical performance against conventional tangential cross-flow filtration.
- To assess the impact of membrane properties and microalgae species.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an industrial-scale vibrating membrane filtration setup.
- Compared various membrane materials (polyethersulfone, polyacrylonitrile) and pore sizes (7000Da to 0.2μm).
- Conducted experiments with Nannochloropsis gaditana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum.
Main Results:
- Dynamic filtration demonstrated superior performance over conventional methods.
- Permeability values in dynamic filtration reached 30L/h/m(2)/bar or higher.
- Conventional filtration achieved permeability values around 10L/h/m(2)/bar.
Conclusions:
- Vibrating membrane filtration is a more effective technology for microalgae concentration.
- Optimal membrane selection depends on cut-off, material, and microalgae type.
- Dynamic filtration offers significant improvements in dewatering efficiency and permeability.
