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Reversible Flocculation of Microalgae using Magnesium Hydroxide

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Abstract

Flocculation of microalgae is a promising low-cost strategy to harvest microalgae for bulk biomass production. However, residual flocculants can interfere in further downstream processes or influence biomass quality. In this study, a new concept is demonstrated based on reversible magnesium hydroxide flocculation, using Chlorella vulgaris and Phaeodactylum tricornutum as, respectively, a freshwater and a marine model species. We show that flocculation was induced by precipitation of magnesium hydroxide at high pH (10 to 10.5). This resulted in a magnesium content of the microalgal biomass of 5 % for Chlorella and 18 % for Phaeodactylum. After pre-concentration of the microalgal biomass by gravity sedimentation, 95 % of the precipitated magnesium hydroxide could be removed from the biomass by mild acidification (pH 7 to 8). The pH fluctuations experienced by the microalgae during flocculation/de-flocculation had no influence on biomass composition (FAME, total N and P, carbohydrates, proteins, mineral content) and on the viability of microalgal cells. Magnesium can thus be used as pH-dependent reversible flocculant for harvesting microalgae in both marine and freshwater medium.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO PhD fellowship A. Beuckels, FWO Postdoctoral fellowship D. Vandamme). We thank Kristin Coorevits and Prof. Erik Smolders, Division of Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven for the ICP-MS analysis. We thank Kevin Vanneste and Manel Azzabi for their contribution to this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. KU Leuven Kulak, Laboratory Aquatic Biology, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium

    Dries Vandamme, Annelies Beuckels & Koenraad Muylaert

  2. KU Leuven Kulak, Research Unit Food & Lipids, Department of Molecular and Microbial Systems Kulak, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium

    Imogen Foubert

  3. Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), KU Leuven Kasteel parkArenberg 20, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium

    Imogen Foubert

  4. Department of Natural Resources Management and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55, Athens, Greece

    Giorgos Markou

Authors
  1. Dries Vandamme
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  2. Annelies Beuckels
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  3. Giorgos Markou
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  4. Imogen Foubert
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  5. Koenraad Muylaert
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Correspondence to Dries Vandamme.

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Vandamme, D., Beuckels, A., Markou, G. et al. Reversible Flocculation of Microalgae using Magnesium Hydroxide. Bioenerg. Res. 8, 716–725 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-014-9554-1

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