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The quality of the water is extremely important for algae production. Liqoflux has extensive experience in water purifying of all type of water sources (well, surface water, sea water, ….) and makes it suitable for algae production. Dependent on a detailed water analysis Liqoflux selects and implements the right technology to purify the water: Ultra-filtration, Dissolved Air Flotation, Activated Filter Media, Reverse-Osmosis, ….

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Liqoflux is world market leader in delivering solutions for algae concentration. The Liqoflux solutions with LiqoCap Ultra Filtration (UF) membranes are helping our algae clients all over the world with the (pre-)concentration of low to high volume algae cultures.
In harvesting high volumes of algae cultures the challenge is to process the high volumes in a minimum timeframe and, at the same time, optimize the algae harvesting costs. To optimize the algae harvesting costs we advise a 2-step algae harvesting solution with the LiqoCap UF membranes:

• Step 1 – Pre-concentrate the algae culture up to 10-20 gr/liter to separate the ‘easy’ water (more than 95% of the water!). The clean water, free from algae cells and bacteria is ready for recycling to your algae production system.
• Step 2 – Concentrate the pre-concentrated algae to a higher dry solid. With the new LiqoCap UF membranes with larger capillary size high end concentrations (>100 gr/l) can be reached. For higher end-concentrations a centrifuge is needed.

Next to the LiqoCap UF membranes we deliver disk filters to protect the UF membranes for larger particles, Vibrating sieves for esp. Spirulina harvesting and Drum filters for large volume pre-concentration of larger algae strains (Spirulina & Dunaliella)

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Our clients are asking more and more for an integrated washing/rinsing step in the algae harvesting process to reduce the salt content.
In our Liqoflux algae harvesting solution we integrated a fully automated washing step where we mix the algae concentrate with fresh water and restart the concentration process.

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Re-using the water is for most algae producers a pre-requisite. The permeate water of the Liqoflux Algae harvesting solution with the LiqoCap UF membranes, is clean. The clean water is free from algae cells and bacteria and ready to be recycled back to the algae production facility. We also help our clients with an extra disinfection step (UV or Ozon) to improve the quality of the water before recycling.
When clients use centrifuges for algae harvesting, not 100% of the algae biomass is harvested. The effluent of the centrifuge contains the ‘lost’ algae cells and bacteria. With the Liqoflux UF solution the effluent can be processed, producing a concentrate containing all the ‘lost’ algae cells and clean water, ready to be recycled.

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The LiqoCap® Ultra Filtration (UF) membranes are the key components of the Liqoflux solutions to effectively separate the algae from the water. Liqoflux selected the right filters for algae harvesting and water recycling. With our LiqoCap membrane technology we concentrate all algae strains. We have extensive worldwide experience with all kind of algae strains, not only algae with strong cell walls but also very fragile algae.

The LiqoCap UF membranes contain capillaries with increased inner diameter and small pore sizes to increase the performance and minimize the fouling. With the new LiqoCap UF membranes with an even larger capillary size, high-end concentrations can be achieved (> 100 grammes/liter).

The Liqoflux units are all PLC controlled and fully automated with a 100% focus on the algae industry. One of the unique functionalities of the Liqoflux solution is that the client can choose the concentration factor for the process and manage the dry weight (DW) of the end-concentrate. We also implemented remote monitoring to help our clients in optimizing the algae concentration from a distance. Also the Cleaning In Place (CIP) process is fully integrated and automated in our units.

Recently we added a new functionality to our units: the automated desalination or washing/rinsing functionality. This new functionality makes it possible to reduce the salt content of the algae concentrate and producing a ‘cleaner’ final algae end product.

Our systems are made of reliable, high quality class A technical components and manufactured under rigorous quality control. All materials used in the Liqoflux units that are in contact with the algae culture/water are FDA, WRAS, KIWA or VEWIN approved for drinking water systems. Based on client’s data, together with our membrane partners, we are striving for continuous improvements on the LiqoCap UF membranes, our automated processes and skid.

For Macro-algae specific applications Liqoflux also delivers the algae solutions with Micro Filtration (MF) membranes and for certain extraction processes with Ultra Filtration (UF) membranes.

Available Algae harvesting units with LiqoCap filters:

• LF-Pilot unit for test & pilot facilities: processing up to ~ 400 liter/hour
• LF1AL22 & LF2AL22, with 1 – 2 LiqoCap UF membranes, units for pilot & smaller algae production facilities, processing 1.000 – 3.000 liter/hour
• Large commercial algae harvesting units with 6 – 40 LiqoCap UF membranes, processing 6.000 – 60.000 liter/hour

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Disk filters are integrated before the LiqoCap UF membranes to filter out the larger particles before the start of the algae harvesting. The disk filter protects the LiqoCap membranes for damaging. Also for the purifying of surface or seawater this is a necessary first technology to implement.

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To preconcentrate large volumes of larger algae strains (e.g. Spirulina & Dunaliella), drum filter technology is an efficient solution to implement. We deliver the drum filters in PP which is an absolute necessity for saline algae production facilities

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Plug & play technology to (pre-)concentrate small to medium sized volumes of larger algae strains (e.g. Spirulina). We deliver the vibrating sieves also in 316L for saline algae production facilities.

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As a final step before recycling the water to the algae production facility, the water can be disinfected with Liqoflux disinfection solution: Ozon and/or Ultraviolet disinfection. Both the Ozon and UV solutions are environmentally friendly, chemical-free and free of by-products. Liqoflux offers complete Ozon & UV disinfection solutions.

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Algae are also often used in processes for water purification. This water purification requires multiple water treatment techniques to achieve the final specification & goal. Liqoflux provides total solutions for the entire water treatment process.

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