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Chapter 13 Process intensification approaches applied to the downstream processing of microalgae production

  • Parag R. Gogate and Priya Yadav
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Microalgae-Based Systems
This chapter is in the book Microalgae-Based Systems

Abstract

Microalgae are unicellular organisms that carry out photosynthesis and are found in fresh as well as marine environment. Microalgae contribute to the production of various products such as biofuels, food supplements, cosmetics, and bio-based chemicals and also help in environmental cleaning by utilizing CO2. High production costs and scaleup problems for microalgae-based products are key challenges in commercializing these products. To overcome these hurdles, process intensification approaches can be applied at various production steps. Process intensification (PI) is an important aspect to improve the processing and is looked upon with great interest. Process intensification, through the revolutionary development of new products and processes that ensure reduced material usage and energy consumption, and reduced environmental impacts while offering greater flexibility in the scale of operations, is the need of the hour. Broadly speaking, process intensification is the modification of the original equipment or replacement by new equipment, which enhances the process rate by improving mass and heat transfer rates. In the current chapter, various intensification approaches applied to downstream steps of microalgae-based products will be discussed. Initially, a brief description about microalgae will be provided, followed by their cultivation, harvesting techniques, and extraction of the products, mainly focusing on the intensification aspects. Overall, this chapter is expected to critically analyze the various approaches and present the benefits due to the involvement of process intensification in various downstream steps of production.

Abstract

Microalgae are unicellular organisms that carry out photosynthesis and are found in fresh as well as marine environment. Microalgae contribute to the production of various products such as biofuels, food supplements, cosmetics, and bio-based chemicals and also help in environmental cleaning by utilizing CO2. High production costs and scaleup problems for microalgae-based products are key challenges in commercializing these products. To overcome these hurdles, process intensification approaches can be applied at various production steps. Process intensification (PI) is an important aspect to improve the processing and is looked upon with great interest. Process intensification, through the revolutionary development of new products and processes that ensure reduced material usage and energy consumption, and reduced environmental impacts while offering greater flexibility in the scale of operations, is the need of the hour. Broadly speaking, process intensification is the modification of the original equipment or replacement by new equipment, which enhances the process rate by improving mass and heat transfer rates. In the current chapter, various intensification approaches applied to downstream steps of microalgae-based products will be discussed. Initially, a brief description about microalgae will be provided, followed by their cultivation, harvesting techniques, and extraction of the products, mainly focusing on the intensification aspects. Overall, this chapter is expected to critically analyze the various approaches and present the benefits due to the involvement of process intensification in various downstream steps of production.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Contributing authors IX
  4. Part I: Fundamentals
  5. Chapter 1 A timeline on microalgal biotechnology 1
  6. Chapter 2 Scope of the microalgae market: a demand and supply perspective 19
  7. Chapter 3 Challenges and opportunities for microalgae biotechnology development 41
  8. Chapter 4 Major bottlenecks in industrial microalgaebased facilities 55
  9. Chapter 5 Multimethod and multiproduct microalgae biorefineries: industrial scale feasibility: eutectic solvents as a novel extraction system for microalgae biorefinery 67
  10. Chapter 6 What is next in microalgae research 81
  11. Chapter 7 Microalgae supply chains 107
  12. Part II: Process integration applied to microalgae-based systems
  13. Chapter 8 Energy and heat integration applied to microalgae-based systems 133
  14. Chapter 9 Mass integration applied to microalgaebased systems 147
  15. Chapter 10 Water integration applied to microalgaebased systems 165
  16. Chapter 11 Process integration opportunities applied to microalgae biomass production 183
  17. Part III: Process intensification applied to microalgae-based processes
  18. Chapter 12 Process intensification applied to bioreactor design 213
  19. Chapter 13 Process intensification approaches applied to the downstream processing of microalgae production 241
  20. Part IV: Process integration and process intensification strategies applied to microalgae-based products
  21. Chapter 14 Process integration opportunities applied to microalgae biomass production 271
  22. Chapter 15 Process integration opportunities applied to microalgae specialty chemicals production 299
  23. Chapter 16 Process intensification opportunities applied to the production of microalgae specialty chemicals 325
  24. Chapter 17 Process integration opportunities applied to microalgae biofuels production 349
  25. Chapter 18 Process intensification opportunities in the production of microalgal biofuels 377
  26. Chapter 19 Process integration approaches applied to carbon dioxide capture and use from microalgae 409
  27. Chapter 20 Algae-based bioelectrochemical systems 425
  28. Chapter 21 Process integration and process intensification approaches as enhancers of industrial sustainability in microalgaebased systems 441
  29. Chapter 22 Patents related to process integration and process intensification applied to microalgae-based systems 455
  30. Chapter 23 A brief mapping of patents in microalgaebased systems 479
  31. Index 507
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110781267-013

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Contributing authors IX
  4. Part I: Fundamentals
  5. Chapter 1 A timeline on microalgal biotechnology 1
  6. Chapter 2 Scope of the microalgae market: a demand and supply perspective 19
  7. Chapter 3 Challenges and opportunities for microalgae biotechnology development 41
  8. Chapter 4 Major bottlenecks in industrial microalgaebased facilities 55
  9. Chapter 5 Multimethod and multiproduct microalgae biorefineries: industrial scale feasibility: eutectic solvents as a novel extraction system for microalgae biorefinery 67
  10. Chapter 6 What is next in microalgae research 81
  11. Chapter 7 Microalgae supply chains 107
  12. Part II: Process integration applied to microalgae-based systems
  13. Chapter 8 Energy and heat integration applied to microalgae-based systems 133
  14. Chapter 9 Mass integration applied to microalgaebased systems 147
  15. Chapter 10 Water integration applied to microalgaebased systems 165
  16. Chapter 11 Process integration opportunities applied to microalgae biomass production 183
  17. Part III: Process intensification applied to microalgae-based processes
  18. Chapter 12 Process intensification applied to bioreactor design 213
  19. Chapter 13 Process intensification approaches applied to the downstream processing of microalgae production 241
  20. Part IV: Process integration and process intensification strategies applied to microalgae-based products
  21. Chapter 14 Process integration opportunities applied to microalgae biomass production 271
  22. Chapter 15 Process integration opportunities applied to microalgae specialty chemicals production 299
  23. Chapter 16 Process intensification opportunities applied to the production of microalgae specialty chemicals 325
  24. Chapter 17 Process integration opportunities applied to microalgae biofuels production 349
  25. Chapter 18 Process intensification opportunities in the production of microalgal biofuels 377
  26. Chapter 19 Process integration approaches applied to carbon dioxide capture and use from microalgae 409
  27. Chapter 20 Algae-based bioelectrochemical systems 425
  28. Chapter 21 Process integration and process intensification approaches as enhancers of industrial sustainability in microalgaebased systems 441
  29. Chapter 22 Patents related to process integration and process intensification applied to microalgae-based systems 455
  30. Chapter 23 A brief mapping of patents in microalgaebased systems 479
  31. Index 507
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