Team

Energy/Environmental Biotechnology & Biochemical Engineering Team

Topic

Microalgae-based Wastewater Treatment and Carbon Capture & Utilization

Abstract

We have developed a large scale outdoor microalgae cultivation system using industrial flue gas CO2 as carbon source and employing different operation strategies to further improve the CO2 fixation efficiency. The high lipid content in the microalgal biomass was further extracted and transesterified for biodiesel production. A 300-ton commercial-scale microalgae cultivation system, a 20-ton outdoor microalgal wastewater treatment and carbon recycling facilities, and a large-scale microalgal cell wall breaking and extraction equipment (5 L/h) have been established to effectively disrupt the microalgal cells and extract the algal oil or algal pigments (e.g., astaxanthin or lutein) for final products formation. The microalgal biomass was also utilized as the functional feed supplement for shrimp cultivation with a high growth rate. This study demonstrates a feasible carbon-neutral/circular-economy model based on a microalgal platform.