Suraj Sathe

Master of Engineering Science Candidate

BE (Chemical)

Location: Room A305 Engineering Annex
Email: suraj.sathe@student.adelaide.edu.au
Phone: + 61 8 8303 3959
FAX: + 61 8 8303 4373

Supervisors

Dr Peter Ashman, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide
Dr David Lewis, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide

Research Topic

Culturing and Harvesting Marine Microalgae for the Large Scale Production of Biodiesel

Research Abstract

In the commercial production of Biodiesel from Marine microalgae, the cost and efficiency of harvesting technique affects the overall cost and production of Biodiesel. Present commercial harvesting techniques used for harvesting microalgae include Centrifugation and Filtration preceded by flocculation. Centrifugation and filtration are very high cost processes and the flocculation techniques are being developed to achieve more efficiency in flocculation of algal biomass. Current research is being carried on the development of Chemical Flocculation, Bio flocculation, Auto flocculation and Microbial flocculation. This project will discuss Electroflocculation as an alternative method of flocculation for large scale Harvesting. The overall efficiency, productivity and cost effectiveness will be discussed.

Interests

• Renewable energy
• Phycology
• Waste Water Treatment