title: Evaluation of several flocculants for flocculating microalgae.
abstract: Flocculation of microalgae with chitosan, polyacrylamide, Al2(SO4)3, NaOH and HNO3 was evaluated. Their flocculation efficiencies and optimal dosages were discussed. The effects of the flocculants on cells viability were also investigated and the cells were found to be intact during the flocculation process. Moreover, the effects of flocculants on the extractions were evaluated. Lipid content after flocculants treatments showed no significant differences. Carbohydrate content was lower but protein content was higher after NaOH treatment than those after other treatments. Furthermore, the five flocculated media maintained approximate growth yields to that of the fresh medium in microalgal cultivation, indicating the five flocculated media could be recycled, thereby reducing the cost of biodiesel production from microalgae. Finally, economic comparison of the flocculants was made and the cost of using HNO3, including flocculating cells and recycling medium, was found to be the lowest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Jinheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Jiexia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Lifang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Chengwu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Aifen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510632, China. Electronic address: tzhury@jnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Yuanming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology; D056804:Biofuels; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003470:Culture Media; D005427:Flocculation; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D058086:Microalgae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017942:Nitric Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D059027:Recycling; D044444:Scenedesmus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D056804:Biofuels; D048271:Chitosan; D003470:Culture Media; D017942:Nitric Acid; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
keywords: Economic comparison; Efficiency; Extraction; Flocculant; Microalgae