METHOD FOR COLLECTING (HARVESTING) LARGE QUANTITY OF MICROALGAE USING MAGNETIC PARTICLES AND EXTERNAL MAGNETIC FIELD

摘要

A method for collecting (harvesting) a large quantity of microalgae uses a collection apparatus comprising: a microalgae culture liquid storage bath for accommodating a microalgae culture liquid in which microalgae are cultured; a magnetic particle supply unit connected to one side of a first flow channel pipe and supplying one or more magnetic particles into the first flow channel pipe; a first collection unit for collecting magnetic particles, to which the microalgae are attached by an electrostatic interaction, using magnetic force, and resupplying the microalgae culture liquid, from which the microalgae and the magnetic particles are removed, to the microalgae culture liquid storage bath; a separation solution storage bath for accommodating the magnetic particles to which the microalgae are attached, supplied from the first collection unit, in a separation solution, thereby separating the magnetic particles and the microalgae from each other; a second collection unit for collecting the magnetic particles, which are separated from the microalgae in the separation solution storage bath, and simultaneously collecting the microalgae; and a controller for controlling operations of the magnetic particle supply unit, the first collection unit, and the second collection unit. In addition, the method using such a collection apparatus comprises the steps of: supplying the microalgae culture liquid, which is accommodated in the microalgae culture liquid storage bath, to the first collection unit (S110); supplying magnetic particles into the microalgae culture liquid through the magnetic particle supply unit, before supplying the magnetic particles to the first collection unit (S120); collecting the magnetic particles to which the microalgae are attached (S130); separating the magnetic particles to which the microalgae are attached, collected in step S130, into magnetic particles and microalgae through a separation process (S140); and harvesting the separated microalgae (S150).;COPYRIGHT KIPO 2015