title: Bio-harvesting and pyrolysis of the microalgae Botryococcus braunii.
abstract: The microalgae Botryococcus braunii is widely recognized as a potentially important biofuel-feedstock whose commercial exploitation is limited by difficulties with its cultivation and harvesting. In this study, two B. braunii strains, Kossou-4 and Overjuyo-3 were successfully cultured at a 500 l-scale for 60-days. Harvesting by bio-flocculation with Aspergillus fumigatus at an optimum ratio of 1:40 of fungus to microalgal culture resulted in up to 98% recovery of biomass in the two strains. Ultimate analysis (C, N, H, S, ash, high heating value) and pyrolysis (analytical and preparative pyrolysis and GC-MS assays) showed that co-harvesting with fungi did not cause any impairment of the feedstock value of the microalgal biomass. This work represents the first report on the successful culturing and harvesting of these strains at a 500 l-scale using bio-flocculation. The use of A. fumigatus represents an efficient and economical method for the harvest of B. braunii for biofuel production.
authors.affiliation: RMIT University, Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, School of Applied Science, Bundoora, VIC, Australia; Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Khalid A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Al-Hothaly
authors.affiliation: RMIT University, Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, School of Applied Science, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Adetutu
authors.affiliation: RMIT University, Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, School of Applied Science, Bundoora, VIC, Australia; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh 13736, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Sciences "R.Sartori", C.I.R.S.A., University of Bologna, via S.Alberto 163, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Sciences "R.Sartori", C.I.R.S.A., University of Bologna, via S.Alberto 163, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lorenzetti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Sciences "R.Sartori", C.I.R.S.A., University of Bologna, via S.Alberto 163, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.affiliation: RMIT University, Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, School of Applied Science, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: RMIT University, Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, School of Applied Science, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Sahar S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Reda A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bayoumi
authors.affiliation: RMIT University, Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, School of Applied Science, Bundoora, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: andy.ball@rmit.edu.au.
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000254:growth & development; D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology*; D018533:Biomass; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000254:growth & development*; D005427:Flocculation; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels
keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus; Bioflocculation; Botryococcus braunii; Harvesting; Pyrolysis