Pilot Scale Evaluation of Algae Harvesting Technologies for Biofuel Production
By:"Jinyong Choi"
Published on 2009 by
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The objective of this research study was to evaluate the performance of a pilot-scale, pH-induced flocculation and deflocculation process for harvesting and concentrating microalgae for biofuel production applications. Pilot scale tests of the technology were conducted using algae-laden water from the following two sources: a brackish aquaculture pond located in south Texas and a pilot scale algae production pond located in Austin, TX. Jar-tests were conducted prior to the pilot scale tests to identify suitable operating conditions that yielded high algae removal efficiencies and yielded a deflocculated algae concentrate that is suitable for downstream processing. During the pilot scale evaluations, the algae in the influent water was separated from the water by increasing the pH of the water to 10.2-10.5 to induce flocculation. The algae could then be recovered from the algae-laden precipitate phase by lowering the pH to 6.4-7.5 using CO2 gas. Performance of the pilot scale process was evaluated in terms of algae removal efficiency and concentration factors as well based on the reduction in volume achieved in processing the raw water into the algae concentrate. Algae removal efficiencies of greater than 90% were achieved in the flocculation step although the ultimate extent of algae recovery in the concentrate phase depended on the method used in the acidification/deflocculation step. Similarly, the concentration of algae in the final product phase could be increased by as much as 94 times but much lower concentration factors were observed if excess supernatant or inefficient separation occurred in any process step. Additional research will be required to further develop and optimize this harvesting technology for a range of algae production facilities and to improve our understanding of the factors that control overall performance.
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