title: Harvesting green algae from eutrophic reservoir by electroflocculation and post-use for biodiesel production.
abstract: Each year there are more frequent blooms of green algae and cyanobacteria, representing a serious environmental problem of eutrophication. Electroflocculation (EF) was studied to harvest the algae which are present in reservoirs, as well as different factors which may influence on the effectiveness of the process: the voltage applied to the culture medium, run times, electrodes separation and natural sedimentation. Finally, the viability of its use to obtain biodiesel was studied by direct transesterification. The EF process carried out at 10V for 1min, with an electrode separation of 5.5cm and a height of 4cm in culture vessel, obtained a recovery efficiency greater than 95%, and octadecenoic and palmitic acids were obtained as the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). EF is an effective method to harvest green algae during the blooms, obtaining the greatest amount of biomass for subsequent use as a source of biodiesel.
authors: AF4 Research Group, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Engineering, Forestry Engineering College, University of Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira s/n, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain. Electronic address: evalero@vigo.es.
authors: Enrique
authors: E
authors: Valero
authors: AF4 Research Group, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Engineering, Forestry Engineering College, University of Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira s/n, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain. Electronic address: giaf4_5@uvigo.es.
authors: Xana
authors: X
authors: Álvarez
authors: Chemical Engineering Department, Industrial Engineering College, University of Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende s/n, 36310 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain. Electronic address: chiqui@vigo.es.
authors: Ángeles
authors: Á
authors: Cancela
authors: Chemical Engineering Department, Industrial Engineering College, University of Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende s/n, 36310 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain. Electronic address: asanchez@uvigo.es.
authors: Ángel
authors: Á
authors: Sánchez
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000382:microbiology; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005068:Eutrophication; D005427:Flocculation; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D060766:Drinking Water; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Biodiesel; Cyanobacterial blooms; Kirchneriella sp.; Microcystis sp.; Scenedesmus spp.