A comprehensive review on harvesting of microalgae using Polyacrylamide-Based Flocculants: Potentials and challenges

• Microalgae harvesting is a major bottleneck to microalgae-based biofuel production. Flocculation the most versatile, energy-efficient and cost-efficient process. Polyacrylamides exhibit high performance at different operation scales. Comprehensive analysis of polyacrylamide-microalgae flocculation was presented. Properties polyacrylamide microalgae culture influence biomass touted as highly promising source renewable third-generation biofuels that could enable lucrative transition from conventional fossil fuels more sustainable environment-friendly energy alternatives. A significant limiting step for large-scale production utilization dewatering cultivated biomass, which comprise 20–30% total expenses. Compared traditional physical methods, coagulation-flocculation techniques using polyacrylamide-based flocculants have garnered attention alternatives due their efficiencies, cost-effectiveness, convenience, scalability. This paper delivers an up-to-date progress in suspensions various flocculants. For first time, comprehensive evaluation existing studies freshwater marine species conducted. The impact flocculant characteristics (e.g., charge type, density, polymer architecture, molecular weight) on efficiencies examined. effect medium properties pH, salinity, species, growth phase, cell aids) polyacrylamide-induced also evaluated. Existing pilot-scale were explored. review further identifies research gaps, key challenges future prospects optimizing studies.