Influence of spray dryer drying parameters to obtain microalgal biomass.

• Grant number: 23/13256-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Patricia Caroline Molgero Da Rós
• Grantee: Marina Ferraro Brocanelli
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The application of the spray drying methodh as proven to be essential in replacing traditional processes such as oven sand freeze-drying to remove moisture from microbial biomass with out altering the properties of the cellular constituents. Through this technique, it is possible to achieve a high yield without significant loss of biomass, as well as eliminating some unit operations that make the process more costly, such as centrifugation. The aim of this Project is to optimize the process of spray drying microalgal biomass in order to maximize biomass yield and obtain carotenoids and ²-carotene. To this end, the microalgae will initially be cultivated in a modified Guillard f/2 medium in a bubble column photobioreactor and then the biomass from the cultivation Will be recovered by flocculation and then subjected to the spray drying process. A full factorial design matrix 22 will be used to simultaneously evaluate some drying parameters, such as temperature (70, 100 and 130°C) and air flow rate (0.8, 1.1 and 1.4 m3/min), biomass yield and obtaining bioproducts such as carotenoids and ²-carotene. The main aspects that Will be addressed in this work include cultivating the microalgae in bubble column photobioreactors, harvesting and recovering the biomass, optimizing the spray drying process, and finally, the dried biomass will be subjected to extraction of the cellular constituent so finterest, such as carotenoids and ²-carotene. The contribution of this Project will be the development of national technologies for biotechnological and sustainable processes to obtain products of industrial interest. It Will also enable this line of research to be strengthened in the Chemical Engineering Department of the Lorena School of Engineering at EEL/USP.