In the following example, the Vibro® Membrane Filtration (VMF) technology is used for algae harvest and concentration.
Description:
Algae culture from a pond or a photo bioreactor is processed continuously or as batch with plug flow through a Vibro-I preconcentration system where up to 98 % of the water is removed as sterile permeate. Water can be returned directly to the pond or reactor – often with improved growth as nutrients are kept intact in the permeate.
In the shown example, the algae concentrate from the preconcentration system is further concentrated in two Vibro-I units operated with mix flow (read more about mix flow – gently mixing of the algae concentrate in the units).
The algae harvest is operated continuously, making it possible to operate the pond or reactor at the optimal exponential growth curve. The system continuously produces a highly concentrated product at 11 l/h from a feed stream of 6500 l/h.
Value adding processing and Heterotrophic Algae processes
Further value adding processing, high-end fractionation of homogenized algae concentrate, buffer exchange, and recovery of target molecules in permeate can be performed according to the application at hand.