Effective Chlorella vulgaris Biomass Harvesting through Sulfate and Chloride Flocculants

Efficient microalgae harvesting is a great challenge hindering diverse industrial applications of microalgae. Flocculation regarded as an effective and promising technology for harvesting. In this study, sulfate (Al2(SO4)3 Fe2(SO4)3) chloride flocculants (AlCl3 FeCl3) were used to harvest Chlorella vulgaris. conditions, including flocculant dose, flocculation time, stirring speed, pH, optimized, effects on microalgal cell status, floc characteristics, biomass composition, algal re-culture, media recycling investigated. All exhibited efficient efficiency (93.5–98.8%) with lower doses salts (60 mg/L culture) higher (100 culture). The tested had no obvious influence composition (including lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, carotenoids), cells in flocs could efficiently regrow. spent medium all treatments was successfully recycled subsequent growth, thus reducing dependency fresh medium.