Process for the recovery of microalgae using magnetic nanoparticles of bacterial origin

Abstract

The invention is part of methods for separating microorganisms from their culture media and aims at solving the low efficiency and high environmental impact of processes for recovering oil-producing microalgae. For this purpose, the invention provides for the application of magnetic nanoparticles of bacterial origin (NMOBs) in processes for isolating microalgae from a cell culture or from a suspension of salt water or an effluent. NMOBs are particularly capable of recovering microalgae from hypersaline suspensions, favoring the use of marine microalgae in the production of oils with potential application in bio-oil and biofuel production processes. In addition to the use of NMOBs, the invention also provides for a process for recovering microalgae based on the addition of NMOBs to the microalgae suspension and subsequent application of external magnetic force.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.