Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 3, 2026
10:37
Procedure to Evaluate the Efficiency of Flocculants for the Removal of Dispersed Particles from Plant Extracts
Published on: April 9, 2016
9.4K
Evaluation of several flocculants for flocculating microalgae.
Jinheng Wu1, Jiexia Liu1, Lifang Lin1
1Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510632, China.
Bioresource Technology
|September 16, 2015
Summary
Microalgae flocculation using various agents showed intact cells and recyclable media, reducing biodiesel production costs. Nitric acid (HNO3) offered the most economical method for flocculation and medium recycling.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Microalgae are a sustainable source for biodiesel production.
- Efficient harvesting and medium recycling are crucial for economic viability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate flocculation efficiencies of different agents on microalgae.
- To assess the impact of flocculation on microalgal biomass composition and medium recyclability.
- To determine the most cost-effective flocculation method for microalgae cultivation.
Main Methods:
- Microalgae were flocculated using chitosan, polyacrylamide, aluminum sulfate (Al2(SO4)3), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and nitric acid (HNO3).
- Flocculation efficiencies, optimal dosages, cell viability, and biomass composition (lipids, carbohydrates, proteins) were analyzed.
- Recyclability of the flocculated media for subsequent microalgal cultivation was assessed.
Main Results:
- All tested flocculants maintained microalgal cell viability.
- Lipid content remained unchanged, while NaOH treatment increased protein and decreased carbohydrate content.
- Recycled media supported growth yields comparable to fresh medium.
Conclusions:
- Microalgal flocculation is feasible without compromising cell viability or biomass quality.
- Medium recycling significantly reduces costs associated with microalgae cultivation.
- Nitric acid (HNO3) presents the most economical option for microalgae flocculation and medium recycling, enhancing biodiesel production economics.
Related Concept Videos
01:06Coagulation
1.7K
Colloidal solids are solid particles suspended in solution. They are usually negatively charged, attracting a compact primary layer of positively charged ions, which attract more counterions to form an electrical double layer. Electrostatic repulsion between the charged double layers prevents the particles from colliding, stabilizing the colloids. These solids are often undesirable because they can contain toxins that are difficult to remove. Coagulation is a technique that helps aggregate and...
1.7K
01:25Biofuels
76
The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...
76
01:09Colloidal precipitates
6.8K
The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...
6.8K
01:19Other Algae
583
The group Stramenopiles include some phototrophic microorganisms. Members of this group possess flagella covered in numerous short, hairlike extensions, a feature that inspired the group's name, derived from the Latin words for "straw" and "hair." Some of the main categories of Stramenopiles include diatoms, golden algae, and brown algae.Diatoms are unicellular, photosynthetic eukaryotes, with over 200 known genera. They play a key role in the planktonic communities of both marine and...
583