Seawater Harvesting Process Essay

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density is more efficient. But, low density requires long times of the water in the reactor and its needed a larger reactor to process the same volume of water. The lower power consumption needed for the marine species is mainly due to the higher conductivity of the marine medium when compared to the freshwater medium. The result is higher efficiency of the electrolytic release of aluminium from the anode. Chloride ions present in sweater attack the aluminium oxide layer formed on the surface of the anode, enhancing the release of aluminium from the anode (Mouedhen et al).

Initial concentration and pH, can offer resistance to cell motion towards the electrodes. Seawater microalgae are more easily separated and required approximately half the energy consumption than the harvesting of freshwater species, as the low ionic strength of the culture medium hinders the separation process.

Factors of variables on the ECF process
The influence of several important variables on the ECF process was studied using a one-variable-at-a-time approach. Consecutively, the influence of the anode …show more content…

Harvesting method Advantages Disadvantages

Chemical coagulation/ flocculation -Simple and fast method.
-No energy requirements. -Chemical flocculants may be expensive and toxic to microalgal biomass.
-Recycling of culture medium is limited.
Auto and bioflocculation -Inexpensive method.
-Allows culture medium recycling. -Non-toxic to microalgal biomass. -Changes in cellular composition.
-Possibility of microbiological contamination.
Gravity sedimentation -Simple and the inexpensive method -Time-consuming.
-Possibility of biomass deterioration.
-Low concentration of the algal cake.
Flotation -Feasible for large scale applications.
-Low cost method.
-Low space requirements.
-Short operation times. -Unfeasible for marine microalgae

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