Four novel methods for the harvesting of micro-algal biomass

Abstract

The harvesting of micro-algal biomass is one of the most inefficient and costly steps in the whole biomass-to-liquids (BtL) value chain. Harvesting costs may contribute between 20–30% of the total cost of micro­algal BtL biodiesel production. One of the major obstacles in the economic production of microalgae, is the development of cost effective harvesting methods for the separation of micro-algal biomass from its growth medium. Four promising, unconventional harvesting methods were investigated to harvest micro-algal biomass from the Hartbeespoort Dam, 37 km west of South Africa’s capital city Pretoria