Harvesting Chlorella sp KR-1 using cross-flow electro-filtration

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to develop enhanced membrane technologies that can avoid fatal fouling problems, thus making it possible to concentrate microalgae solutions efficiently. A conductive filter called 'electro-membrane' was manufactured and then tested in a CFEF (cross-flowelectro-filtration) system. In continuous mode, the applied electric field enhanced the harvesting performance by 150%, demonstrating the antifouling property of the synthesized electro-membrane. In discrete mode, the membrane surface, in which microalgae cells were clogged, was almost completely cleansed by the use of a periodic powerful repulsive force, resulting in flux recovery to the initial high level.