title: Flocculation as a low-cost method for harvesting microalgae for bulk biomass production.
abstract: The global demand for biomass for food, feed, biofuels, and chemical production is expected to increase in the coming decades. Microalgae are a promising new source of biomass that may complement agricultural crops. Production of microalgae has so far been limited to high-value applications. In order to realize large-scale production of microalgae biomass for low-value applications, new low-cost technologies are needed to produce and process microalgae. A major challenge lies in the harvesting of the microalgae, which requires the separation of a low amount of biomass consisting of small individual cells from a large volume of culture medium. Flocculation is seen as a promising low-cost harvesting method. Here, we overview the challenges and possible solutions for flocculating microalgae.
authors: KU Leuven Kulak, Laboratory Aquatic Biology, E. Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium.
authors: Dries
authors: D
authors: Vandamme
authors: Imogen
authors: I
authors: Foubert
authors: Koenraad
authors: K
authors: Muylaert
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D005427:Flocculation; D058086:Microalgae / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels