title: Application of acid mine drainage for coagulation/flocculation of microalgal biomass.
abstract: A novel application of acid mine drainage (AMD) for biomass recovery of two morphologically different microalgae species with respect to AMD dosage, microalgal cell density and pH of medium was investigated. Optimal flocculation of Scenedesmus obliquus and Chlorella vulgaris occurred with 10% dosage of AMD at an initial pH 9 for both 0.5 and 1.0 g/L cell density. The flocculation efficiency was 89% for S. obliquus and 93% for C. vulgaris. Zeta potential (ZP) was increased from -10.66 to 1.77 and -13.19 to 1.33 for S. obliquus and C. vulgaris, respectively. Scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive X-ray of the microalgae floc confirmed the sweeping floc formation mechanism upon the addition of AMD. Application of AMD for the recovery of microalgae biomass is a cost-effective method, which might further allow reuse of flocculated medium for algal cultivation, thereby contributing to the economic production of biofuel from microalgal biomass.
authors: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea.
authors: El-Sayed
authors: ES
authors: Salama
authors: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, South Korea.
authors: Jung Rae
authors: JR
authors: Kim
authors: Environmental Remediation Research Group, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Gangneung Institute, Gangneung 210-340, South Korea.
authors: Min-Kyu
authors: MK
authors: Ji
authors: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea.
authors: Dong-Wan
authors: DW
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, New Borg El Arab City, Alexandria 21934, Egypt.
authors: Reda A I
authors: RAI
authors: Abou-Shanab
authors: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea.
authors: Akhil N
authors: AN
authors: Kabra
authors: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea. Electronic address: bhjeon@hanyang.ac.kr.
authors: Byong-Hun
authors: BH
authors: Jeon
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000535:Aluminum / Q000378:metabolism; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D005427:Flocculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D058086:Microalgae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D056804:Biofuels; D000535:Aluminum; D007501:Iron
keywords: Acid mine drainage; Coagulation/flocculation; Microalgal floc; Zeta potential