Microalgae are emerging as next-generation renewable resources with the potential to address urgent industrial and agricultural demands. Conventional harvesting methods include centrifugation, filtration, flocculation, and flotation. However, these methods are still limited by intensive energy consumption, long treatment time, or chemical addition requirement. In this study, we design and fabricate porous superabsorbent polymer (PSAP) beads to concentrate and harvest freshwater microalgae cultures. The PSAP beads can swell fast in microalgae suspension with high water absorption capacity. Meanwhile, microalgae cells are excluded outside the beads and successfully concentrated in the residual medium. This 3D microfiltration process is self-driven attributed to the high water absorbency of the PSAP beads. After the treatment, the beads can be easily isolated from the microalgal concentrate and reused after drying. The use of PSAP beads for microalgae harvesting is fast, effective, and scalable. It doesn’t require any complex instruments or chemical additions. Therefore, this technique potentially provides an efficient and feasible alternative to obtain high concentrations of functional biomass at a very low cost.

Freshwater microalgae harvesting by self-driven 3D microfiltration with porous superabsorbent polymer (PSAP) beads

ACS Fall 2021

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