Use of electrolytic hydrogen bubbles for the concentration of unicellular algae

Abstract

The most of the existing unicellular algae are used for the creation of oxygen in the locked ecosystems. The concentrate of unicellular algae contains not only living cells, but also complete spectrum of the water-soluble metabolites of unicellular algae that are contained in the cultural medium. The concentrate of unicellular algae can be easily included in any existing systems of watering and feeding of animals, and also with the production of the granulated mixed feed. Some of unicellular algae concentrate (Chlorella) can be converted to the raw oil during less than per hour, i.e. the algae concentrate can become source for production cheap, high-quality biofuel, but existing methods of the concentration are very expensive because of the impossibility of concentration by economically advantageous method. Other unicellular algae (Dunaliella) are well-known by their antioxidant properties, due to capability to produce the carotene in the large numbers, which widely used in the medicine, in the production of cosmetic and biologically active additives and high concentration of glycerin. These qualities permit to use the algae for commercial purposes. Despite the fact that technically processing of the glycerin from these algae can be possible, but this production also, as in the case of Chlorella, has been recognized economically unfavorable because of the impossibility of concentration by economically advantageous method. All existing methods of unicellular algae concentration require the use of the expensive centrifugation or microfiltration. The paper represents the practical use of a new developed method of production of the high concentrate of the unicellular algae (as example: Chlorella and Dunaliella of Salina) that uses the action of the negatively charged electrolytic bubbles of hydrogen, formed during of the process of the electrolysis of the environment of unicellular algae + natural or nutrient medium, on the unicellular algae for obtaining their high-quality concentrates. Keywords: Separation; Concentrates of unicellular algae; Manyphase systems; Electric field influence on the water solutions; Hydrogen electrolysis gas bubbles.