Use of response surface method for modeling and optimization of harvesting and isolation of microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana pa.91 with Fe3O4/PACl composite nanoparticles from municipal wastewater

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Babol Noshirvani University of Technology

2 Babol noshirvani university of technology

3 Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, 47148-7313 Babol, Iran.

Abstract

Microalgae have the potential to produce valuable substances for pharmaceutical purposes, as well as serve as a food source, providing bioactive compounds and ingredients for cosmetics. However, harvesting microalgae is a crucial step in the mass production of various high-value products derived from microalgae. This process often becomes a major bottleneck in downstream processing. It is essential to find effective and cost-effective harvesting methods in industrial applications. Among several harvesting methods, magnetic flocculation offers the benefits of modest operation, energy savings and quick separation. This study investigates the harvesting process of Chlorella sorokiniana pa.91 microalgae using a novel flocculation process involving nano-Fe3O4 coated with PACl. In this research, we have used the chemical co-precipitation method to prepare nanoparticles. Using the response surface method to optimize the most important parameters of the magnetic flocculation harvesting process to check the microalgae removal efficiency, three variables of time, concentration of nanomaterials and pH in the culture medium obtained from municipal wastewater have been investigated. The results demonstrated that the highest harvesting efficiency, nearly 90%, was achieved under the conditions of 3.5 g/L Fe3O4, a constant concentration of 0.075 g/L PACl, a harvesting duration of 40 minutes, and a pH level of 4. on the other hand, the lowest microalgae harvesting efficiency was observed under specific conditions: with a composite nanoparticle concentration of 0.5 g/L per liter, a harvesting time of 27.5 minutes, and a pH of 6.5, resulting in a mere 22% efficiency.

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Amirkabir Journal of Civil Engineering
Volume 56, Issue 2
May 2024
Pages 4-4

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