METHOD FOR HARVESTING MICROALGAE SUSPENDED IN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING A HYDROPHOBIC CHEMICAL

摘要

A process for harvesting microalgae from an aqueous suspension of microalgae is disclosed. A dilute aqueous suspension of the algae is mixed with a hydrophobic liquid with a specific gravity of less than 1 and, optionally, a flocculent. When the mixture settles, the microalgae become suspended in the hydrophobic liquid above the aqueous solution. The hydrophobic liquid can skimmed from the aqueous solution for further processing.