System and method for high-voltage pulse assisted aggregation of algae

Abstract

A method and device for aggregating algae in an aqueous solution is disclosed. The method can include providing an algae feed comprising a liquid and algae dispersed therein. The algae feed can be aggregated by applying a nanosecond pulsed electric field to the algae feed. The nanosecond pulsed electric field can include a plurality of electric pulses having a pulse duration ranging from 1 to 1,000 nanoseconds. The method can also include separating an aggregated algae stream from the algae feed and feeding the aggregated algae stream to a lipid extraction operation.

1 . A system for aggregating algae, comprising:
 an aggregation reactor comprising at least one electrode, said at least one electrode in electrical communication with a power supply and in liquid communication with an algae feed contained in said aggregation reactor, said power supply for applying nanosecond electric pulses to said at least one electrode, said nanosecond electric pulses having a pulse duration ranging from 1 nanosecond to 1,000 nanoseconds.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a separator in fluid communication with said aggregation reactor, said separator for producing an aggregated algae stream from an aggregated effluent from said aggregation reactor.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said aggregation reactor comprises said separator. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a lipid extraction operation in fluid communication with and down-stream of said aggregation reactor. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a lipid extraction operation in fluid communication with and down-stream of said separator. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said nanosecond electric pulses produce electric fields in said algae feed such that algae in said algae feed lose less than 10 wt-% of a lipid content of said algae as a result of said nanosecond electric pulses. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a peak electric field of said pulses ranges from 1 to 1,000 kV/cm. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a peak power of said pulses is at least 1 megawatt. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a peak voltage of said pulses ranges from 1 kV and 500 kV.