Physicochemical approach to freshwater microalgae harvesting with magnetic particles

0398932 - ÚVGZ 2014 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Procházková, G. - Podolová, N. - Šafařík, Ivo - Zachleder, Vilém - Brányik, T.
Physicochemical approach to freshwater microalgae harvesting with magnetic particles.
Colloids and Surfaces B-Biointerfaces. Roč. 112, DEC 2013 (2013), s. 213-218. ISSN 0927-7765. E-ISSN 1873-4367
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GAP503/10/1270
Institutional support: RVO:67179843 ; RVO:61388971
Keywords : microalgae * cell adhesion * magnetic beads * surface interactions * XDLVO theory
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour; EI - Biotechnology ; Bionics (MBU-M)
Impact factor: 4.287, year: 2013

Magnetic harvesting of microalgal biomass provides an attractive alternative to conventional methods.The approach to this issue has so far been pragmatic, focused mainly on finding cheap magnetic agents incombination with harvestable microalgae species. The aim of this work was to study experimentally andtheoretically the mechanisms leading to cell-magnetic agent attachment/detachment using real experi-ments and predictions made by colloidal adhesion (XDLVO) model. Two types of well defined magneticbeads (MBs) carrying ion exchange functional groups (DEAE – diethylaminoethyl and PEI – polyethylen-imine) were studied in connection with microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris). Optimal harvesting efficiencies(>90%) were found for DEAE and PEI MBs, while efficient detachment was achieved only for DEAE MBs(>90%). These findings were in accordance with the predictions by XDLVO model. Simultaneously therewas found a discrepancy between the XDLVO prediction and the poor detachment of PEI MBs frommicroalgal surface. This can be ascribed to an additional interaction (probably covalent bonds) betweenPEI and algal surface, which the XDLVO model is unable to capture given by its non-covalent nature.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0226293