Effects of wastewater microalgae harvesting methods on polyhydroxybutyrate production.

Microalgae have gained considerable attention recently as a sustainable means to produce biofuels and bioproducts. It has previously been demonstrated that single strain microalgae can be harvested and processed through a wet lipid extraction procedure (WLEP). After WLEP processing, acetone, butanol, ethanol, and biodiesel can be produced, and growth of recombinant Escherichia coli can be achieved from the microalgae.

Effect of coagulant/flocculants on bioproducts from microalgae.

The potential of microalgae as a source of sustainable energy, nutritional supplements and specialized chemicals necessitates a thorough evaluation of the methods of harvesting microalgae with regards to the bioproduct(s) desired. This research assessed the effect of coagulation, flocculation, and centrifugation on the wet lipid extraction procedure, which fractionated microalgae into hydrolyzed biomass for fermentation into acetone, butanol, and ethanol, an aqueous phase as growth media for genetically engineered Escherichia coli, and a lipid fraction for the production of biodiesel. Biomass harvested by cationic starches, alum, and centrifugation produced 30, 19, and 22.

Optimization of cationic amino starch synthesis using biogenic amines.

Harvesting microalgae presents a challenge in selecting the most economical method for low cost algal bioproducts. Previous studies have shown coagulation-flocculation to be the most efficient method for large scale microalgae harvesting. This study focused on modifying native potato starch with biogenic amines and optimizing the reaction parameters.