Energy-efficient membranes for microalgae dewatering: Fouling challenges and mitigation strategies

Microalgae have attracted great interest for biofuel production, wastewater treatment, and CO2 capture from dilute sources, but its broad implementation is limited by the high energy consumption of algae dewatering. Membrane technology has emerged as a key process for algae dewatering, but its performance is restrained by the fouling of organic matter in the algae solutions, resulting in low water permeance. This review presents stateof-the-art comprehensive strategies adopted to mitigate membrane fouling. We first discuss the complex nature of the algae solutions and elucidate the fouling mechanisms of the commercial membranes. Second, the modifications of the membrane surface to improve antifouling properties are exhaustively described, such as imparting organic functional groups and inorganic nanoparticles. Third, we concisely review operating designs to enhance the dewatering performance of the membranes, including pretreatment of algae solution, enhancement of feed flow rate or shear force, and membrane cleaning. Finally, the development needed to expand the technology implementation is assessed.

Automated summary

This review discusses comprehensive strategies to mitigate membrane fouling in algae dewatering. The strategies include improving the antifouling properties of the membrane surface and optimizing the operating designs. Surface modifications and algae solution pretreatment are explored as potential methods. The article also highlights the need for further technology development.