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Effective Harvesting of Nannochloropsis Microalgae Using Mushroom Chitosan: A Pilot-Scale Study.

IR@CSIR-CFTRI

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Relation http://ir.cftri.com/7931/
https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00771
 
Title Effective Harvesting of Nannochloropsis Microalgae Using Mushroom Chitosan: A Pilot-Scale Study.
 
Creator Elvis, T. Chua
Ajam, Y. Shekh
Eladl, Eltanahy
Thomas Hall, Skye R.
Peer, M. Schenk
 
Subject 28 Polysaccharide Chemistry
01 Algae
 
Description For efficient downstream processing, harvesting remains as one of the challenges in producing Nannochloropsis biomass, a microalga with high-value omega-3 oils. Flocculation is an effective, low-energy, low-cost method to harvest microalgae. Chitosan has been shown to be an effective food-grade flocculant; however, commercial chitosan is sourced from crustaceans, which has disadvantages including concerns over heavy-metal contamination. Thus, this study tests the flocculation potential of mushroom chitosan. Our results indicate a 13% yield of chitosan from mushroom. The identity of the prepared chitosan was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, results show that mushroom chitosan can be an alternative flocculant with >95% flocculation efficiency when tested in 100-mL jar and 200-L vertical column photobioreactor. Applications in a 2000-L raceway pond demonstrated that thorough mixing of mushroom chitosan with the algal culture is required to achieve efficient flocculation. With proper mixing, mushroom chitosan can be used to produce food-grade Nannochloropsis biomass suitable for the production of vegan omega-3 oils as a fish oil alternative.
 
Date 2020
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format pdf
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://ir.cftri.com/7931/1/fbioe.2020.pdf
Elvis, T. Chua and Ajam, Y. Shekh and Eladl, Eltanahy and Thomas Hall, Skye R. and Peer, M. Schenk (2020) Effective Harvesting of Nannochloropsis Microalgae Using Mushroom Chitosan: A Pilot-Scale Study. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 8. pp. 1-8.