Application of ABS membranes in dynamic filtration for Chlorella sorokiniana dewatering

This work focuses on the use of dynamic membrane filtration with cheap membranes manufactured from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer for dewatering of Chlorella sorokiniana microalgae strain. Dynamic filtration based on vibration was used at pilot scale and compared to conventional cross-flow filtration to demonstrate how fouling can be greatly minimized. Experiments were carried-out with different types of commercial membranes from different pore sizes and materials such as polyethersulfone or polyacrylonitrile. ABS membranes were produced, characterized (scanning electron microscopy, contact angle and porosity measurements) and tested with conventional and dynamic filtration. Composition of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymeric solution as well as conditions of membrane preparation were examined in order to obtain a useable membrane for microalgae filtration. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene membranes offered promising results in terms of permeability when applied to both filtration techniques for Chlorella sorokiniana dewatering. The influence of different concentrations of microalgae culture as a feed for dynamic membrane filtration was examined. To confirm total microalgae rejection the optical density of feed, permeate and retentate was studied in all experiments. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene material is order of magnitudes cheaper than conventional membrane materials. Combined with dynamic filtration, both may turn membrane filtration into a preferred technology for microalgae dewatering. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.