Volume 45, Issue 8 pp. 1474-1481
Research Article

Immobilization Method to Separate Microalgae Biomass for Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Production

Noor Raihana Abu Sepian

Noor Raihana Abu Sepian

Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, College of Engineering Technology, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

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Nur Hidayah Mat Yasin

Corresponding Author

Nur Hidayah Mat Yasin

Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, College of Engineering Technology, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Research in Fluid Flow (CARIFF), Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

Correspondence: Nur Hidayah Mat Yasin ([email protected]), Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, College of Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.Search for more papers by this author
Nagaarasan Ramesh

Nagaarasan Ramesh

Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, College of Engineering Technology, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

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First published: 18 May 2022
Citations: 3

Abstract

An immobilization method for simplified separation of cultured cells and their products from the growth media was developed. The growth rates of both immobilized and free cells of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris were compared. The free and immobilized cells reached nearly identical cell densities. The reported immobilization strategy uses a combination of matrices (sodium alginate (SA), calcium alginate (CA), and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)) at different matrix/microalgae volumetric ratios of 0.3:1 and 1:1. The microalgae in the SACACMC/Mc (0.3:1) beads achieved the highest cell density. The cells immobilized in SACACMC/Mc (0.3:1) gave the highest lipid yield, as compared to the cells immobilized in SA. Pore size and membrane thickness analysis as well as surface images of SACACMC/Mc (0.3:1) showed that the mixed matrix had a unique structure favoring lipid production.

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