Author Spotlight: Scaling Microalgal Biotechnology for Enhanced Biomethane Production

Our research focuses on developing sustainable and viable microalgal biotechnology for biomethane We show that it was possible to scale the biogas filter up to some industrial scale under other conditions. The process of scaling is aimed at treating larger flows of biogas in smaller facilities with the aim of making it more economically viable. Additionally, the process seeks to promote operating conditions that can lead to greater production of value by products extracted from microalgal biomass.

Through a full scale process exposed to outdoor conditions, we have discovered various species of microalgae that enable us to operate the microalgal filter efficiently. We have also identified the optimal operating conditions that lead to a higher volumetric concentration of biomethane. We were able to successfully scale up the microalgal filter to full scale operations, and identify the optimal operating conditions for photo bioreactors and microalgae filter to achieve methane concentrations of up to 85%volume.

The use of other species of microalgae under the same operating conditions could improve the performance efficiency of the microalgae filter. In spring summer, the increase in temperature will help the efficiency of the system.