title: Microalgae harvesting and cell disruption: a preliminary evaluation of the technology electroflotation by alternating current.
abstract: Some species of microalgae have high productivity and lipid content, which makes them good candidates for biodiesel production. Biomass separation and cell disruption are important steps in biodiesel production from microalgae. In this work, we explored the fundamentals of electroflotation by alternating current (EFAC) with non-consumable electrodes to simultaneously harvest microalgae and disrupt cells from mixed microalgae obtained from waste stabilization ponds. The harvesting efficiency was evaluated using chlorophyll-a and turbidity, which reached removals of 99% and 95%, respectively, during a batch time of 140 min. Cell disruption was evaluated using lipid extraction, and the best results were achieved with a batch time of 140 min, which resulted in a 14% yield. Therefore, EFAC was shown to be an attractive potential technology for simultaneous microalgal harvesting and cell disruption.
authors: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil E-mail: andre23@ufc.br.
authors: Riamburgo Gomes
authors: RG
authors: de Carvalho Neto
authors: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil E-mail: andre23@ufc.br.
authors: José Gilmar da Silva
authors: JG
authors: do Nascimento
authors: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil E-mail: andre23@ufc.br.
authors: Mayara Carantino
authors: MC
authors: Costa
authors: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil E-mail: andre23@ufc.br.
authors: Alexandre Colzi
authors: AC
authors: Lopes
authors: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil E-mail: andre23@ufc.br.
authors: Eliezer Fares
authors: EF
authors: Abdala Neto
authors: Department of Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors: César Rossas Mota
authors: CR
authors: Filho
authors: Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil E-mail: andre23@ufc.br.
authors: André Bezerra
authors: AB
authors: Dos Santos
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D058086:Microalgae / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D061005:Ponds; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D008055:Lipids; D062065:Wastewater