Ultra-high throughput microfluidic concentrator for harvesting of Tetraselmis sp. (Chlorodendrophyceae, Chlorophyta)

Mirakhorli, F; Razavi Bazaz, S; Warkiani, ME; Ralph, PJ

Ultra-high throughput microfluidic concentrator for harvesting of Tetraselmis sp. (Chlorodendrophyceae, Chlorophyta)

Mirakhorli, F Razavi Bazaz, S

Warkiani, ME Ralph, PJ

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Algal Research, 2023, 72, pp. 103145
Issue Date:: 2023-05-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Mirakhorli, F
dc.contributor.author	Razavi Bazaz, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6419-3361
dc.contributor.author	Warkiani, ME
dc.contributor.author	Ralph, PJ
dc.date.accessioned	2024-03-08T03:43:09Z
dc.date.available	2024-03-08T03:43:09Z
dc.date.issued	2023-05-01
dc.identifier.citation	Algal Research, 2023, 72, pp. 103145
dc.identifier.issn	2211-9264
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/176350
dc.description.abstract	Microalgae are of commercial interest for their ability to produce high-value compounds and their potential to be used as feedstock across numerous industries. The production of algal biomass and other algal-based products involves different upstream and downstream processing steps, including cultivation, harvesting, and extraction. In particular, the harvesting process involves the extraction of a condensed algal slurry from a watery growth medium. This process accounts for 20 to 30 % of the biomass production costs, creating technological and economic barriers. The conventional harvesting methods suffer from high costs, cross-contamination, and low yield. This study explores the use of a microfluidic technique, in particular, the rigid spiral microchannel, for ultra-high-throughput algae harvesting. We have designed a novel spiral channel that enables microalgae separation at high flow rates and spatial resolution, taking advantage of inertial microfluidic principles. The results from trials with surrogate microparticles and algal cells reveal that the microchannel has the potential to operate at 12 mL/min with separation efficiency >99 %. Our inertial microfluidic device operates at high flow rates as a single channel, can be multiplexed, and shows excellent potential for large-scale processing of microalgae cultures. In addition, the lower number of loops provides the system with reduced back pressure, making it more desirable for operation using a range of different pumps. Since the overall cost of microalgae dewatering is substantial at the industrial scale, the design and fabrication of low-cost devices are of great importance, similar to the one we have developed in this study.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Algal Research
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.algal.2023.103145
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0607 Plant Biology, 0904 Chemical Engineering, 1003 Industrial Biotechnology
dc.subject.classification	3108 Plant biology
dc.subject.classification	4004 Chemical engineering
dc.title	Ultra-high throughput microfluidic concentrator for harvesting of Tetraselmis sp. (Chlorodendrophyceae, Chlorophyta)
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	72
utslib.for	0607 Plant Biology
utslib.for	0904 Chemical Engineering
utslib.for	1003 Industrial Biotechnology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Strength - C3 - Climate Change Cluster
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Biomedical Engineering
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-03-08T03:43:01Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	72

Abstract:

Microalgae are of commercial interest for their ability to produce high-value compounds and their potential to be used as feedstock across numerous industries. The production of algal biomass and other algal-based products involves different upstream and downstream processing steps, including cultivation, harvesting, and extraction. In particular, the harvesting process involves the extraction of a condensed algal slurry from a watery growth medium. This process accounts for 20 to 30 % of the biomass production costs, creating technological and economic barriers. The conventional harvesting methods suffer from high costs, cross-contamination, and low yield. This study explores the use of a microfluidic technique, in particular, the rigid spiral microchannel, for ultra-high-throughput algae harvesting. We have designed a novel spiral channel that enables microalgae separation at high flow rates and spatial resolution, taking advantage of inertial microfluidic principles. The results from trials with surrogate microparticles and algal cells reveal that the microchannel has the potential to operate at 12 mL/min with separation efficiency >99 %. Our inertial microfluidic device operates at high flow rates as a single channel, can be multiplexed, and shows excellent potential for large-scale processing of microalgae cultures. In addition, the lower number of loops provides the system with reduced back pressure, making it more desirable for operation using a range of different pumps. Since the overall cost of microalgae dewatering is substantial at the industrial scale, the design and fabrication of low-cost devices are of great importance, similar to the one we have developed in this study.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/176350