Microalgae cultur ing is an essential contributor to aquaculture and other industries in biotechnology. These cultures are used in the Roger Williams University Aquaculture and Aquarium Science Lab (RWU AASL) and Luther Hx . Blount Shellfish Hatchery to sustain filter-feeding organisms, as well as provide adequate shading in larval tanks during the culturing process . Microalgae production is a costly and time-consuming process, so it is essential to optimize growth and storage methods. Using microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF), the total volume of liquid the microalgae cells are suspended in can be significantly reduced, creating a dewatered, cell-dense output that can be stored and fed when necessary. Utilization of MF and UF is preferable for cell viability compared to other methods of dewatering. There are several different components that affect the efficiency of these filtration processes and this project details ideal methods for dewatering microalgae using a single-pump small-scale crossflow filtration system.
To fully capture the changes occurring to the algae population during filtering, a mathematical model was developed. This model aims to test the effects of parameters such as flow rate, culture volume, and pressure on cell count and viability. Modeling also simulated the impacts of shear stress within the MF or UF system on the microalgal cells, as high stress dramatically reduces cell viability. S imulated parameters must be repeatedly tested to ensure the most viable biomass concentration. Upon dewatering, the decrease in culture volume and increase in cell density of the retentate allows for the compact storage of microalgae
Establishing best practices for microalgae filtration fosters the creation of a time and cost-efficient method of feeding the organisms grown in the RWU AASL and Hatchery. This will also provide a convenient method for acquiring concentrated microalgae for use in commercial hatcheries or other industry locations.