Charge‐tunable polymers as reversible and recyclable flocculants for the dewatering of microalgae. Issue 1 (10th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morrissey, Kathryn L.; He, Chunlin; Wong, Min Hao; Zhao, Xueying; Chapman, Rebeccah Z.; Bender, Shana L.; Prevatt, William D.; Stoykovich, Mark P.
• Is Part Of: Biotechnology and bioengineering. Volume 112:Issue 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 83
• Publication Date: 2014-10-10
• Subjects: Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Bioengineering -- Periodicals; 660.6
• DOI: 10.1002/bit.25340
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3592

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="bit25340-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Microalgae‐derived biofuels have potential advantages over other renewable, crop‐based resources; however, large‐scale production is not currently economical due, in part, to challenges in the harvesting step. In this article, we present a novel approach for the dewatering and harvesting of microalgae using flocculants that can be recovered and recycled. Polyampholytes with molecular charges dependent upon pH (ranging from net positively‐ to net negatively‐charged) are used as a model flocculant system and provide reversible electrostatic interactions with the negatively‐charged algal cells. These pH‐dependent properties allow the polyampholytic flocculants to efficiently desorb from concentrated biomass and, unlike most commercial flocculants that have permanently charged functionalities, be recovered and recycled for further dewatering processes. The behavior of the model polyampholytic flocculants is characterized for the dewatering of <italic>Chlorella vulgaris</italic> (UTEX 395). The reversible and recyclable flocculants achieve &gt;99% flocculation efficiencies, are recovered at more than 98 wt% yields after biomass dewatering, and can be recycled over five times for flocculation. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 74–83. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>