Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Optimizing Growth Factors for Production of Biotechnologically Relevant Secondary Metabolites
Published on: October 25, 2024
Effective harvesting of microalgae by coagulation-flotation
Ling Xia1, Yinta Li2,3, Rong Huang2
1Hubei Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources Processing and Environment, Wuhan University of Technology, Luoshi Road 122, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
This study developed a coagulation-flotation process for microalgae Chlorella sp. XJ-445 harvesting, which was composed of algal surface modification by combined use of Al3+ and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and followed dispersed bubble flotation. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the medium was firstly characterized and mainly consisted of hydrophilic low molecular weight molecules. The dosage of collector (CTAB) and coagulant (Al3+) were optimized, and with the pretreatment of 40 mg Al3+ and 60 mg CTAB per 1 g dry biomass without pH adjustment, a maximum flotation recovery efficiency of 98.73% can be achieved with the presence of DOM. Algal cells characterization results showed that the combined use of CTAB and Al3+ largely enhanced the algal floc size, and exhibited higher degree of hydrophobicity, which favoured the flotation, and can be interpreted by DLVO (Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek) modelling. A benefit in fatty acid conversion was further found with the optimized coagulation-flotation process. It was suggested that this coagulation based flotation is a promising strategy for high-efficiency harvesting of microalgae.
Related Concept Videos
Coagulation
Coagulation
During the coagulation phase, clotting factors, or procoagulants, play a vital role in initiating and progressing the coagulation cascade. This cascade is a series of reactions...
Buffer Effectiveness
The buffer capacity is the amount of acid or base that can be added to a given volume...
Framing Effects
Biological Effects of Radiation
Self-Awareness and Its Effects

