Continuous harvesting of microalgae by new microfluidic technology for particle separation
Birgitte K Hønsvall1, Dag Altin2, Lucy J Robertson3
1Buskerud and Vestfold University College, Raveien 205, 3184 Borre, Norway; Trilobite Microsystems AS, Raveien 205, 3184 Borre, Norway.
Bioresource Technology
|October 30, 2015
Summary
A novel trilobite-structured microfluidic chip effectively concentrates microalgae for harvesting. This technology shows promise for pre-concentrating challenging microalgal species, aiding in biomass production.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microfluidics
- Aquaculture
Background:
- Microalgal harvesting is crucial for biomass production but faces challenges with cell concentration.
- Existing methods can be inefficient for certain microalgal species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a new trilobite-structured microfluidic chip for pre-concentrating microalgae.
- To assess the chip's efficacy with different microalgal species and properties.
Main Methods:
- A microfluidic chip with a 5-μm gap limit was designed and fabricated.
- The chip was tested for concentrating Rhodomonas baltica, Chaetoceros sp., and Thalassiosira weissflogii.
Main Results:
- The chip successfully concentrated rigid microalgal cells and sorted them by size.
- Concentration was effective for R. baltica and Chaetoceros sp. without clogging.
- Exopolymer production by T. weissflogii presented harvesting challenges.
Conclusions:
- The Trilobite™ microfluidic chip is a promising tool for pre-concentrating microalgae.
- Further optimization is needed to accommodate variations in cell size and flexibility.
- The chip is particularly useful for microalgae that are difficult to harvest due to size or properties.
