An integrated process for microalgae harvesting and cell disruption by the use of ferric ions.

Dong-Yeon Kim, You-Kwan Oh, Ji-Yeon Park, Bohwa Kim, Sun-A Choi, Jong-In Han

Index: Bioresour. Technol. 191 , 469-74, (2015)

Full Text: HTML

Abstract

In this study, a simultaneous process of harvesting biomass and extracting crude bio-oil was attempted from wet microalgae biomass using FeCl3 and Fe2(SO4)3 as both coagulant and cell-disrupting agent. A culture solution of Chlorella sp. KR-1 was firstly concentrated to 20 g/L and then proceeded for cell disruption with the addition of H2O2. Optimal dosage were 560 and 1060 mg/L for FeCl3 and Fe2(SO4)3, showing harvesting efficiencies of more than 99%. Optimal extraction conditions were identified via the response surface method (RSM), and the extraction yield was almost the same at 120 °C for both iron salts but FAME compositions after transesterification was found to be quite different. Given iron salts were a reference coagulant in water treatment in general and microalgae harvesting in particular, the present approach of using it for harvesting and oil-extraction in a simultaneous manner can serve as a practical route for the microalgae-derived biodiesel production.Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.