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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Immobilization of Multi-biocatalysts in Alginate Beads for Cofactor Regeneration and Improved Reusability
Published on: April 22, 2016
News on alginate recovery by forward osmosis: Reverse solute diffusion is useful
Da-Qi Cao1, Xiu-Zhen Sun2, Wen-Yu Zhang3
1Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies/Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing, 100044, China; Beijing Energy Conservation & Sustainable Urban and Rural Development Provincial and Ministry Co-construction Collaboration Innovation Center, Beijing, 100044, China.
Abstract:
The water content in the recycled alginate solutions from aerobic granular sludge was nearly 100%. Forward osmosis (FO) has become an innovative dewatering technology. In this study, the FO concentration of sodium alginate (SA) was investigated using calcium chloride as a draw solute. The reverse solute flux (RSF) of calcium ions in FO had a beneficial effect, contrary to the findings of previous literature. The properties of the concentrated substances formed on the FO membrane on the feed side were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, verifying that calcium alginate (Ca-Alg), which can be used as a recycled material, was formed on the FO membrane on the feed side owing to the interaction between SA and permeable calcium ions. Water flux increased significantly with the increase in calcium chloride concentration, while the concentration of SA had little influence on the water flux in FO. Based on this discovery, we propose a novel method for the concentration and recovery of alginate, in which the RSF of calcium ions is utilized for recovering Ca-Alg by FO, with calcium chloride as a draw solute.
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