Use of Natural pH Variation to Increase the Flocculation of the Marine Microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata

Microalgae is largely used in aquaculture as feed. More recently, these microorganisms have been considered as an important feedstock for biodiesel production. However, the concentration of produced biomass represents a large parcel of production costs. In this study, we have evaluated the influence...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied biochemistry and biotechnology 2015-02, Vol.175 (4), p.2012-2019
Main Authors: Sales, Rafael, Abreu, Paulo Cesar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acrylic Resins - pharmacology
Algae
Aquaculture
aquaculture feeds
Biochemistry
biodiesel
Biodiesel fuels
Biofuels
Biomass
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
culture media
Culture Media - chemistry
feedstocks
Flocculation
Flocculation - drug effects
harvesting
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Light
Microalgae
Microalgae - chemistry
Microalgae - drug effects
Microalgae - physiology
Microalgae - radiation effects
Microorganisms
Nannochloropsis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis - drug effects
Photosynthesis - physiology
Photosynthesis - radiation effects
Production costs
Raw materials
Sodium hydroxide
Sodium Hydroxide - pharmacology
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Summary:Microalgae is largely used in aquaculture as feed. More recently, these microorganisms have been considered as an important feedstock for biodiesel production. However, the concentration of produced biomass represents a large parcel of production costs. In this study, we have evaluated the influence of natural pH variation of culture medium, caused by photosynthetic activity, on the flocculation of the marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata. Experiments were conducted with the same culture with different pH values (8.5 and 9.6), obtained after exposing the cells to different light conditions. For each pH value, different treatments were composed by adding 0, 5, 10, and 30 mM of NaOH and the flocculant Flopam® (FO4800 SH) at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, and 5 ppm. Higher flocculation efficiencies were obtained for the culture with pH 9.6 in comparison to 8.5 for the same NaOH and Flopam concentrations. Lower concentrations of base and flocculant were needed for flocculating the culture in higher pH, representing an economy of 20 % in the costs of crop harvesting.
ISSN:0273-2289
1559-0291
DOI:10.1007/s12010-014-1412-2