Harvesting of marine microalgae by electroflocculation: The energetics, plant design, and economics

Andrew K. Lee, David M. Lewis and Peter J. Ashman

Applied Energy, 2013, vol. 108, issue C, 45-53

Abstract: Microalgae have the potential to be the feedstock for biofuels and laboratory scale electroflocculation was studied as a harvesting technique for marine microalgae. The effects of the electrode separation and mechanical mixing on the energy consumption were also assessed. Results were used to design a commercial scale electroflocculation plant for the estimation of the harvesting cost. By combining electroflocculation with mixing and settling, an overall energy consumption of 0.33MJm−3 has been achieved. On a large scale, the mixing can be made energy efficient by the use of a baffled hydraulic mixer. The total cost for the harvesting, including electrical energy, electrode metal dissolution and capital depreciation, is estimated to be $0.19kg−1 of the ash free dry mass. Hence, electroflocculation has the potential to be more economical than other harvesting techniques for marine microalgae.

Keywords: Electroflocculation; Harvesting; Microalgae; Hydraulic mixing; Electrode dissolution; Economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.03.003

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