Repeated use of stable magnetic flocculant for efficient harvest of oleaginous Chlorella sp

Bioresour Technol. 2014 Sep:167:284-90. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.06.055. Epub 2014 Jun 20.

Abstract

In the present study, a simple magnetic-particle recycling strategy was developed for harvest of the oleaginous microalga Chlorella sp. KR-1. The method entails the flocculation of microalgal cells and bare-Fe3O4 magnetic particles (bMP) by electrostatic attraction and the subsequent recovery of the bMP from the harvested flocs by electrostatic repulsion below and above the isoelectric points (IEP), respectively. For 10 recycles, the bMP showed 94-99% and 90-97% harvest and recovery efficiencies, respectively. Furthermore, neither the use of bMP nor pH adjustment showed any adverse effect on the microalgal cell growth or the co-existing bacterial species, as confirmed from the subsequent medium-recycling test and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis.

Keywords: Electrostatic interaction; Harvest; Magnetic particles; Medium recycling; Microalgae.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Chlorella / growth & development*
  • Culture Media
  • Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis
  • Flocculation
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Lipids / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Phenomena*
  • Microalgae / growth & development
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Recycling
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Lipids
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S