Patent ID: 9540258
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: C02F,C12M

Claim:
1. A method for separating, harvesting and primary dewatering microalgae biomass from a microalgae solution, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a vertical electrolysis reactor, said reactor comprising: (b) pumping the microalgae solution into the reactor via the inlet to create a flow of the solution from the bottom to the top of the reactor where the solution exits the reactor via the outlet; (c) varying a rate of the flow rate when said microalgae solution is injected into the electrolysis reactor so as to create turbulences in the microalgae solution inside the electrolysis reactor; (d) routing the turbulently injected microalgae solution in the electrolysis reactor from the bottom of the electrolysis reactor to the top thereof; (e) applying an electric current between the at least one anode and the at least one cathode while the microalgae solution flows through the electrocoagulation chamber for aggregating microalgae components of the solution to form flocs in the microalgae solution; (f) re-injecting the solution that exits the reactor via the outlet at the top of the reactor into the same reactor via the inlet at the bottom of the reactor; and (g) repeating steps (c) to (f) for multiple passes through the reactor until treatment is completed.