Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Flocculation Effect of Alkaline Electrolyzed Water (AEW) on Harvesting of Marine Microalga Tetraselmis sp.

  • Lee, Su-Jin (Jeju International Marine Science Research & Education Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) ;
  • Choi, Woo-Seok (Jeju International Marine Science Research & Education Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) ;
  • Park, Gun-Hoo (Jeju International Marine Science Research & Education Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) ;
  • Kim, Tae-Ho (Jeju International Marine Science Research & Education Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) ;
  • Oh, Chulhong (Jeju International Marine Science Research & Education Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) ;
  • Heo, Soo-Jin (Jeju International Marine Science Research & Education Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) ;
  • Kang, Do-Hyung (Jeju International Marine Science Research & Education Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology)
  • Received : 2017.09.19
  • Accepted : 2018.01.03
  • Published : 2018.03.28
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Abstract

Microalgae hold promise as a renewable energy source for the production of biofuel, as they can convert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis. However, cost-efficient harvest of microalgae remains a major challenge to commercial-scale algal biofuel production. We first investigated the potential of electrolytic water as a flocculant for harvesting Tetraselmis sp. Alkaline electrolyzed water (AEW) is produced at the cathode through water electrolysis. It contains mineral ions such as $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ that can act as flocculants. The flocculation activity with AEW was evaluated via culture density, AEW concentration, medium pH, settling time, and ionic strength analyses. The flocculation efficiency was 88.7% at 20% AEW (pH 8, 10 min) with a biomass concentration of 2 g/l. The initial biomass concentration and medium pH had significant influences on the flocculation activity of AEW. A viability test of flocculated microalgal cells was conducted using Evans blue stain, and the cells appeared intact. Furthermore, the growth rate of Tetraselmis sp. in recycled flocculation medium was similar to the growth rate in fresh F/2 medium. Our results suggested that AEW flocculation could be a very useful and affordable methodology for fresh biomass harvesting with environmentally friendly easy operation in part of the algal biofuel production process.

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