Dynamic Microfiltration in Microalgae Harvesting for Biodiesel Production

Abstract

Microalgae is a promising feedstock for biodiesel production because of its lipid content and because it helps to decrease the use of land for nonfood applications (second generation biomass for energy production). To produce biodiesel, several stages should be followed. An important one is microalgae concentration after the growth stage and prior to lipid extraction. Microfiltration is a possible method if its energy consumption is optimized, considering the total cost of the whole process and the value of the final product. Enhanced dynamic microfiltration has been tested as a method for reducing fouling and concentration polarization at low transmembrane pressure with promising results. Three variables have been considered so far: rotational speed, transmembrane pressure, and type of membrane (material and mean pore size).