title: Benchmark study on algae harvesting with backwashable submerged flat panel membranes.
abstract: The feasibility of algae harvesting with submerged flat panel membranes was investigated as pre-concentration step prior to centrifugation. Polishing of the supernatant coming from the centrifuge was evaluated as well. The effect of membrane polymer (polyvinyl chloride [PVC], polyethersulfone polyvinyl-pyrollidone [PES-PVP], poly vinylidene fluoride [PVDF]), pore size (microfiltration [MF], ultrafiltration [UF]), algae cell concentrations and species were investigated at lab-scale. In addition, backwashing as fouling control was compared to standard relaxation. PVDF was the superior polymer, and UF showed better fouling resistance. Backwashing outperformed relaxation in fouling control. The backwashable membranes allowed up to 300% higher fluxes compared to commercial flat panel benchmark (PVC) membranes. Estimations on energy consumption for membrane filtration followed by centrifugation revealed relatively low values of 0.169 kW h/kg of dry weight of algae compared to 0.5 kW h/kg for algae harvesting via classical centrifuge alone.
authors.affiliation: Flemish Institute for Technological Research, VITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium. tom.debaerdemaeker@vito.be
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Baerdemaeker
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lemmens
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dotremont
authors.forename: Jorien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fret
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roef
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goiris
authors.forename: Ludo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Diels
mesh_terms: D017756:Aquaculture / Q000295:instrumentation*; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019985:Benchmarking; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial