Synthesizing cationic polymers and tuning their properties for microalgae harvesting.

Aditya, L; Vu, HP; Johir, MAH; Mao, S; Ansari, A; Fu, Q; Nghiem, LD

Synthesizing cationic polymers and tuning their properties for microalgae harvesting.

Aditya, L Vu, HP Johir, MAH Mao, S Ansari, A

Fu, Q

Nghiem, LD

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Sci Total Environ, 2024, 917, pp. 170423
Issue Date:: 2024-03-20

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Aditya, L
dc.contributor.author	Vu, HP
dc.contributor.author	Johir, MAH
dc.contributor.author	Mao, S
dc.contributor.author	Ansari, A https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9510-6307
dc.contributor.author	Fu, Q https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4012-330X
dc.contributor.author	Nghiem, LD
dc.date.accessioned	2024-03-12T07:36:54Z
dc.date.available	2024-01-23
dc.date.available	2024-03-12T07:36:54Z
dc.date.issued	2024-03-20
dc.identifier.citation	Sci Total Environ, 2024, 917, pp. 170423
dc.identifier.issn	0048-9697
dc.identifier.issn	1879-1026
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/176580
dc.description.abstract	This study reports a facile technique to synthesize and tune the cationic polymer, poly(3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride (PAPTAC), in terms of molecular weight and surface change for harvesting three microalgae species (Scenedesmus sp., P.purpureum, and C. vulgaris). The PAPTAC polymer was synthesised by UV-induced free-radical polymerisation. Polymer tuning was demonstrated by regulating the monomer concentration (60 to 360 mg/mL) and UV power (36 and 60 W) for polymerisation. The obtained PAPTAC polymer was evaluated for harvesting three different microalgae species and compared to a commercially available polymer. The highest flocculation efficiency for Scenedesmus sp. and P. purpureum was observed at a dosage of 25 mg-polymer/g of dry biomass by using PAPTAC-90, resulting in higher flocculation efficiency than the commercial polymer. Results in this study show evidence of effective neutralisation of the negative charge surface of microalgae cells by the produced cationic PAPTAC polymer and polymer bridging for effective flocculation. The obtained PAPTAC polymer was less effective for harvesting C. vulgaris, possibly due to other factors such as cell morphology and composition of extracellular polymeric substances of at the cell membrane that may also influence harvesting performance.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation	Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer
dc.relation.ispartof	Sci Total Environ
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170423
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences
dc.subject.mesh	Polymers
dc.subject.mesh	Microalgae
dc.subject.mesh	Cations
dc.subject.mesh	Flocculation
dc.subject.mesh	Biomass
dc.subject.mesh	Scenedesmus
dc.subject.mesh	Scenedesmus
dc.subject.mesh	Cations
dc.subject.mesh	Polymers
dc.subject.mesh	Biomass
dc.subject.mesh	Flocculation
dc.subject.mesh	Microalgae
dc.title	Synthesizing cationic polymers and tuning their properties for microalgae harvesting.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	917
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
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 Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
utslib.copyright.status	embargoed	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2026-03-20T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2024-03-12T07:36:53Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	917

Abstract:

This study reports a facile technique to synthesize and tune the cationic polymer, poly(3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride (PAPTAC), in terms of molecular weight and surface change for harvesting three microalgae species (Scenedesmus sp., P.purpureum, and C. vulgaris). The PAPTAC polymer was synthesised by UV-induced free-radical polymerisation. Polymer tuning was demonstrated by regulating the monomer concentration (60 to 360 mg/mL) and UV power (36 and 60 W) for polymerisation. The obtained PAPTAC polymer was evaluated for harvesting three different microalgae species and compared to a commercially available polymer. The highest flocculation efficiency for Scenedesmus sp. and P. purpureum was observed at a dosage of 25 mg-polymer/g of dry biomass by using PAPTAC-90, resulting in higher flocculation efficiency than the commercial polymer. Results in this study show evidence of effective neutralisation of the negative charge surface of microalgae cells by the produced cationic PAPTAC polymer and polymer bridging for effective flocculation. The obtained PAPTAC polymer was less effective for harvesting C. vulgaris, possibly due to other factors such as cell morphology and composition of extracellular polymeric substances of at the cell membrane that may also influence harvesting performance.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/176580