Phaeodactylum tricornutum is an interesting microalgae
candidate for biodiesel production because it grows
well in culture and produces a significant amount of lipids
(Alonso et al. 2000; Rodolfi et al. 2009). Moreover,
P. tricornutum is one of the few microalgae species whose
entire genome has been fully sequenced (Bowler et al.
2008), thus facilitating possible genetic modification for
the purpose of increasing lipid productivity. The goal of
this study is to determine a simple, rapid and an efficient preconcentration
method—preferentially cost effective—for
P. tricornutum through testing: (1) natural sedimentation,
(2) flocculation with commercial flocculants (aluminium
sulphate and polyaluminium chloride (PAC)) and chitosan
and (3) pH-induced flocculation.