title: Continuous harvesting of microalgae by new microfluidic technology for particle separation.
abstract: A new microfluidic chip based on a trilobite structure, designed for continuously concentrating particles in moving fluids, was investigated as a pre-concentration method for microalgal harvesting. The chip has a 5-μm gap limit and was tested for concentrating the microalgae Rhodomonas baltica, Chaetoceros sp. and Thalassiosira weissflogii. The chip was able to concentrate rigid cells and to sort them according to size. However, optimization with respect to cell properties, such as size and flexibility, needs further work. Although no clogging of the chip was seen for R. baltica and Chaetoceros sp., production of exopolymers by T. weissflogii made harvesting challenging for this species. The Trilobite™ microfluidic chip appears to be a promising tool for pre-concentrating microalgae that are difficult to harvest due to their repelling properties or small size.
authors.affiliation: Buskerud and Vestfold University College, Raveien 205, 3184 Borre, Norway; Trilobite Microsystems AS, Raveien 205, 3184 Borre, Norway. Electronic address: birgitte.honsvall@hbv.no.
authors.forename: Birgitte K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Hønsvall
authors.affiliation: BioTrix, 7022 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Dag
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altin
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Adamstuen Campus, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Lucy J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D048429:Cell Size; D004867:Equipment Design; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development*; D044085:Microfluidics; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D010969:Plastics; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D011108:Polymers
keywords: Chaetoceros sp.; Microalgae harvesting; Particle concentration; Rhodomonas baltica; Thalassiosira weissflogii