Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
Bioresour Technol. 2018 Feb;249:713-719. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.10.066. Epub 2017 Oct 19.
Different from current harvesting methods, the aim of this study was to concentrate microalgae by removing the medium with polyacrylic superabsorbent polymers (PSAPs). This method can concentrate freshwater microalgae Chlorella sp. at a relatively high biomass concentration of 90.23 g L. Without further dewatering, the concentrated microalgae can be directly used to produce biofuels by oil extraction or fermentation. The kinetic characteristics of PSAPs swelling in different solutions were investigated. The results indicate that the negative influence on absorbency caused by ionic strength was greater than microalgae concentration. Compared with the diffusion part, water absorbed by the relaxation of PSAPs was dominant and accounted for over 97%. Equilibrium absorbed water equations under different microalgae concentration were fitted and could provide guide to quantifiably concentrate microalgae. Increasing temperature decreased the absorbency of PSAPs, while, the absorption and desorption rate were increased. Moreover, the absorbency remained at 91.45% after recycling three times.
与当前的收获方法不同，本研究的目的是通过使用聚丙烯酸超强吸水聚合物 (PSAPs) 去除介质来浓缩微藻。该方法可将淡水微藻小球藻浓缩到相对较高的生物质浓度 90.23g/L。无需进一步脱水，浓缩后的微藻可直接通过提取油或发酵来生产生物燃料。研究了 PSAP 在不同溶液中的溶胀动力学特性。结果表明，离子强度对吸液率的负面影响大于微藻浓度。与扩散部分相比，PSAPs 弛豫吸收的水是主要的，占比超过 97%。拟合了不同微藻浓度下的平衡吸水方程，可为定量浓缩微藻提供指导。升高温度会降低 PSAPs 的吸液率，但会增加吸收和解吸速率。此外，三次回收后吸液率仍保持在 91.45%。
