Effect of the induced dielectrophoretic force on harvesting of marine microalgae (Tetraselmis sp.) in electrocoagulation

Alaa H Hawari; Afnan M Alkhatib; Probir Das; Mahmoud Thaher; Abdelbaki Benamor

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110106

Effect of the induced dielectrophoretic force on harvesting of marine microalgae (Tetraselmis sp.) in electrocoagulation

J Environ Manage. 2020 Apr 15:260:110106. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110106. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

Authors

Alaa H Hawari¹, Afnan M Alkhatib², Probir Das³, Mahmoud Thaher³, Abdelbaki Benamor⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: a.hawari@qu.edu.qa.
² Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar.
³ Algal Technologies Program, Center for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar.
⁴ Gas Processing Centre, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar.

PMID: 32090819
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110106

Abstract

In this study, a new electrocoagulation electrode configuration has been investigated in order to induce dielectrophoretic (DEP) force for the enhanced harvesting of marine microalgae (Tetraselmis sp.). Asymmetrical aluminum electrodes with an alternative current power supply were used. The impact of electrode configuration, current density and electrolysis time were evaluated. A maximum algal harvesting efficiency of 90.9% was achieved using 7.1 mA/cm² current density and 10 min electrolysis time. The energy consumption was found to be 4.62 kWh/kg of microalgae. The major significance of using the new electrode configuration was found in the aluminum content in the harvested biomass which decreased by 52% compared to the conventional symmetrical electrocoagulation electrodes.

Keywords: Alternating current; Aluminum accumulation; Dielectrophoresis (DEP); Electrocoagulation; Marine microalgae.

MeSH terms

Aluminum
Biomass
Chlorophyta*
Electrocoagulation
Electrodes
Electrolysis
Microalgae*

Substances

Aluminum