Application of a novel microalgae‐film based air purifier to improve air quality through oxygen production and fine particulates removal

Abstract

BACKGROUND Low oxygen content and high density of airborne fine particulates in closed environments are serious problems threatening people's health. Herein a novel concept of using microalgae for air purification is proposed, and approaches, including the construction of a condensed microalgae film and the use of hydrogel, to realize this concept in a real‐world application are discussed. RESULTS The results demonstrated that moisture loss, which limited O2 production and fine particulates removal, is a serious technical barrier to the durable use of this air purifier. With the addition of hydrogel, moisture loss of microalgae film in 8 h was reduced to 24.76%. Comparison of the contributions of hydrogel and microalgae indicated that in this air purifier, microalgae mainly contributed to fine particulates removal while hydrogel enhanced the performance of microalgae film by alleviating the moisture loss. Studies on the mechanisms proved that fine particulates removal by microalgae film is mainly driven by negative surface charge on microalgae cells. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that qa microalgae‐film based air purifier performed well in oxygen production and fine particulates removal. In a real‐world application, to properly operate this air purifier, moisture content and pH value of the microalgae film should be strictly controlled. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

A Review on the Use of Microalgae for Sustainable Aquaculture

“…Previous studies have successfully applied various microalgal species, such as Chlorella sp., Dunaliella sp., and Scenedesmus sp., for the production of value-added biomass, which could be exploited to partly replace aquaculture feed and enhance the immunity of aquatic animals [15,18,19]. Last but not the least, microalgae with a high capacity of generating oxygen could act like a bio-pump for aeration in aquaculture and adjust the microbial community in a water body [20]. Thus, the water quality in aquaculture practice could be properly controlled to avoid algal bloom or oxygen depletion.…”

Sustained Photosynthesis and Oxygen Generation of Microalgae-Embedded Silk Fibroin Hydrogels

“…52 In the literature, an air purifier was prepared by coating the surface of cotton canvas with microalgae. 53 The oxygen production rates of this air purifier on the 1st day and the 5th day were 30 and 9.16 mg/h, respectively. The reason for the decrease in oxygen production efficiency was due to the continuous decrease of water content in the air purifier.…”

“…The techniques of utilizing microalgae for foods and cosmetic products are already in place . In the literature, an air purifier was prepared by coating the surface of cotton canvas with microalgae . The oxygen production rates of this air purifier on the 1st day and the 5th day were 30 and 9.16 mg/h, respectively.…”

Microalgae biotechnology as an attempt for bioregenerative life support systems: problems and prospects

“…Since the oil synthesis is partly attributed to the carbon captured through photosynthesis, microalgae have great performance in photosynthesis. High photosynthesis rates of microalgae were also reported by another study which measured oxygen productivity . Secondly, microalgae can utilize CO 2 at low concentration owing to the CO 2 concentrating mechanism (CCM), which allows the accumulation of a large quantity of intracellular inorganic carbon (Ci) through concerted Ci uptake systems and enzymes catalyzing the interconversion between different species of Ci, while most higher plants lack the CCM .…”

“…High photosynthesis rates of microalgae were also reported by another study which measured oxygen productivity. 24 Secondly, microalgae can utilize CO 2 at low concentration owing to the CO 2 concentrating mechanism (CCM), which allows the accumulation of a large quantity of intracellular inorganic carbon (Ci) through concerted Ci uptake systems and enzymes catalyzing the interconversion between different species of Ci, while most higher plants lack the CCM. 25,26 Therefore, in terms of carbon capture and oxygen generation in BLSSs, microalgae can be a better option than most higher plants.…”