title: CO₂ controlled flocculation of microalgae using pH responsive cellulose nanocrystals.
abstract: Cellulose nanocrystals were grafted with imidazole functionalities up to DS 0.06 using a one-pot functionalization strategy. The resulting nanocrystals were shown to have a pH responsive surface charge which was found to be positive below pH 6 and negative above pH 7. These imidazolyl cellulose nanocrystals were tested for flocculation of Chlorella vulgaris using CO2 to induce flocculation. Up to 90% flocculation efficiency was achieved with 200 mg L(-1) dose. Furthermore, the modified cellulose nanocrystals showed good compatibility with the microalgae during cultivation, giving potential for the production of reversible flocculation systems.
authors.affiliation: Renewable Materials and Nanotechnology Research Group, KU Leuven - Campus Kortrijk, Etienne Sabbelaan 53 box 7659, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium. wim.thielemans@kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eyley
authors.forename: Dries
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vandamme
authors.forename: Sanjaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lama
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van den Mooter
authors.forename: Koenraad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muylaert
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thielemans
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris / Q000378:metabolism*; D005427:Flocculation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002482:Cellulose