Harvesting of microalgae by flocculation with poly (γ-glutamic acid)
Abstract
In an effort to search for an efficient and environmentally friendly harvesting method, a commercially available microbial flocculant poly (γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) was used to harvest oleaginous microalgae. Conditions for flocculation of marine Chlorella vulgaris and freshwater Chlorella protothecoides were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) and determined to be 22.03 mg L(-1) γ-PGA, 0.57 g L(-1) biomass, and 11.56 g L(-1) salinity, and 19.82 mg L(-1) γ-PGA and 0.60 g L(-1) biomass, respectively. Application of the two optimized flocculation methods to Nannochloropsis oculata LICME 002, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, C. vulgaris LICME 001, and Botryococcus braunii LICME 003 gave no less than 90% flocculation efficiency and a concentration factor greater than 20. Micrographs of the harvested microalgal cells showed no damage to cell integrity, and hence no lipid loss during the process. The results show that flocculation with γ-PGA is feasible for harvesting microalgae for biodiesel production.
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Poly-gamma-glutamic acid is produced by Bacillus subtilis.
“and poly-gamma-glutamic acid (produced by Bacillus subtilis ) [48].”
From Key Targets for Improving Algal Biofuel Production (2021) · cites this paper as [48]
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- Authors
- Zheng, H., Gao, Z., Yin, J., Tang, X., Ji, X., & Huang, H.
- Affiliations
- Nanjing Tech University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Huang, He
- Venue
- Bioresource Technology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-05
- Volume
- 112
- Pages
- 212-220
- ISSN
- 0960-8524 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2009149573
- Cited by
- 211
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 7.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Bioresource Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (2011CB200904, 2011CB200906)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Coagulation and Flocculation Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Biopolymer Synthesis and Applications
- Keywords
- microalgae harvesting, flocculation, poly-γ-glutamic acid, bioflocculant, oleaginous microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella protothecoides, Nannochloropsis oculata, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Botryococcus braunii, biodiesel feedstock, flocculation efficiency, salinity effects, cell integrity
- MeSH terms
- Analysis of Variance, Chlorella, Flocculation, Fresh Water, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Polyglutamic Acid, Species Specificity, Time Factors, Biomass, Cell Culture Techniques, Salinity, Microalgae, Aquatic Organisms
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