title: Enhancement of Chlorella vulgaris harvesting via the electro-coagulation-flotation (ECF) method.
abstract: This article explores the potential of using an electro-coagulation-flotation (ECF) harvester to allow flotation of microalgae cells for surface harvesting. A response surface methodology (RSM) model was used to optimize ECF harvesting by adjusting electrode plate material, electrode plate number, charge of the electrodes, electrolyte concentration, and pH value of the culture solution. The result revealed that three aluminum electrode plates (one anode and two cathodes), brine solution (8 g/L), and acidity (pH = 4) of culture solution (optimized ECF harvester) The highest flocculant concentration was measured at 2966 mg/L after 60 min and showed a 79.8 % increase of flocculation concentration. Such results can provide a basis for designing a large-scale microalgae harvester for commercial use in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, SAR, China.|Center for Research in Environmental Science, The Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Environmental Science, The Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Environmental Science, The Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Environmental Science, The Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, SAR, China. kklyung@hkbu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: K K L
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Yung
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum; D002708:Chlorella; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris; D005427:Flocculation; D058086:Microalgae
chemical_list: D000535:Aluminum
keywords: Chlorella vulgaris; Electro-coagulation-flotation; Harvesting; Optimization