Pulsed electric fields for algal extraction and predator control

Abstract

Pulsed electric field (PEF) processing uses short, high-voltage electrical pulses and a specially designed treatment chamber to permeabilize cellular membranes. There are at least two distinct applications of PEF to algal growth and processing - extraction of intracellular material and microalgae predator population control. PEF processing has the potential to provide lower costs and higher productivity for the production of biofuels, human and animal food and feed supplements, and high-value specialty chemicals from large-scale algae farms, but it is not possible to assess either the applicability or costs of PEF processing in a commercially meaningful manner today. This paper describes two potential PEF applications - extraction enhancement and predator control.