Project description
An effective harvesting technique for microalgae
Microalgae comprise a novel and attractive biomass feedstock that requires negligible arable land and resources. However, their small size (1–10 µm) and low biomass concentration in the liquid culture medium (~1 g/L) present considerable challenges to the successful harvesting of microalgal biomass. One solution is to combine reversible bio-based flocculants with fast separating and concentrated sludge yielding flotation processes, which have the added benefit of ensuring low environmental impact and reduced process costs. The EU-funded AlgaeFLOAT project will develop a sustainable microalgal harvesting technology that will build on and further improve low-cost, bio-based flocculants derived from cellulose based on conventional and advanced dissolved air flotation processes.
Objective
The European market demand for biomass for feed, food, and fuel production is expected to increase to greater than €25 billion by 2050. Microalgae are an attractive and novel biomass feedstock that requires negligible arable land and resources. Yet, the small size of microalgae cells (1-10 µm) and low biomass concentration in the liquid culture medium (~1 g/L) complicate the harvesting of microalgal biomass using conventional technologies such as centrifugation or membrane filtration. It is widely believed that the harvesting of microalgal biomass could be better facilitated by aggregating small individual cells into larger aggregates using chemical flocculants via the flocculation process and then separating the flocculated biomass via gravity sedimentation. However, challenges remain, including contamination of the microalgal biomass with synthetic chemical flocculants, time-consuming separation, and high water content in the separated biomass. The combination of reversible bio-based flocculants, and fast separating and concentrated sludge yielding flotation processes can alleviate these challenges, with the added benefit of ensuring low environmental footprint and process costs. In this project, the experienced researcher (ER) aims to develop a sustainable microalgal harvesting technology that will build on and further improve reversible, low cost, bio-based flocculants derived from cellulose (developed at the host institute) in combination with his expertise on conventional and advanced dissolved air flotation (DAF) processes. This project will allow the ER to acquire novel scientific skills (synthesis, characterisation of renewable flocculants), which combined with his expertise in DAF, will allow him to create a unique niche in microalgal biotechnology specifically, and water technologies in general. It will also allow him to bring his management skills to the level required to obtain a tenure-tracked position at a leading European academic institution
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology sedimentology
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
- agricultural sciences agricultural biotechnology biomass
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3000 Leuven
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.