Progress in microalgae harvesting technology

Abstract:

Microalgae are promising biological resource, which will play important role in environmental protection, wastewater treatment and clean energy production. However, the high-cost of the harvesting process limits its large-scale application. Thus, it is quite important to find economical, environment-friendly, and efficient microalgae harvest technologies. This paper reviewed the advantage and disadvantage of different microalgae harvesting methods, including centrifugation, sedimentation, filtration, flotation, and flocculation technology. This paper focus on research progress about flocculation technology. The main aim is hoping to provide some theorical and technological support for economic, environment-friendly, efficient harvesting technologies to promote the microalgae industry.

Key words:Microalgae, Harvesting, Flocculation, Biological flocculation