Algae Harvesting

Algae harvesting poses a huge challenge to the development and commercialization of the technology of algal biomass production, especially for microalgae where the algal cell density is almost equal to that of water. Macroalgae, which are popularly known as seaweeds, have several advantages compared to microalgae in terms of harvesting. For example, harvesting and dewatering require far less energy compared to that of microalgae. It is therefore pertinent to note that harvesting methods that require high energy input, expensive equipment, or huge quantity of chemicals can increase the overall cost of algal biomass production, reducing the economic feasibility of the process. Thus, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and best-of-all new hybrid algal harvesting techniques are urgently needed. This chapter discusses the various methods of harvesting algae (both seaweeds and microalgae), their economic feasibility, environmental impacts, as well as the possible constraints to algal harvesting for commercial utilization.