JP2018057294A - Method of concentrating algae-containing liquid, method of recovering algae, algae concentration system, and algae recovery system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of concentrating an algae-containing liquid, a method of recovering algae, an algae concentration system and an algae recovery system in which the concentration and recovery of algae in a large amount of culture solution are simple.SOLUTION: A method of concentrating an algae-containing liquid comprises: a step of filtering the algae-containing liquid with a spring type filter 3, and accumulating algae on the filtration surface of the spring type filter 3; and a step of recovering the algae by removing algae accumulated on the filter surface by a backflow of fluid through the spring type filter 3 and recovering the algae in recovery liquid of a volume less than the volume of the algae-containing liquid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an algae-containing liquid concentration method, algae recovery method, algae concentration system, and algae recovery system.

  In recent years, algae has attracted attention as a material for biomass fuels and foods, and algae culture in a large-scale culture plant is popular. As a method for recovering algae from a culture solution, a method of precipitating algae using a centrifuge or a flocculant (Patent Document 1), a filtration method using a porous filter (Patent Document 2), and the like have been proposed. Yes.

International Publication No. 2013/024816 JP 2014-150768 A

  However, it is difficult to process a large amount of culture solution with a centrifuge, and adding a flocculant causes a problem that it is difficult to apply to food applications. In addition, the porous filter is easily clogged, and there is a problem that it takes time and effort to remove the algal bodies clogged in the porous filter (cleaning of the filter).

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of concentrating or recovering algae contained in a large amount of culture solution, a method for concentrating algae-containing liquid, a method for recovering algae, and algae concentration It is an object to provide a system and an algae recovery system.

[1] Filtering the algae-containing liquid with a spring filter, accumulating the algae on the filtration surface of the spring filter, and passing the fluid flowing back through the spring filter, the algae accumulated on the filtration surface And a step of recovering the algal bodies in a recovery liquid having a volume smaller than the volume of the algae-containing liquid.
[2] Using a spring-type filter whose filter surface is covered with a precoat material, filtering the algae-containing liquid with the spring-type filter, and accumulating algal bodies on the surface of the precoat material; Removing the precoat material and the accumulated algal bodies covering the filtration surface, and collecting the precoat material and the algal bodies in a recovery liquid having a volume smaller than the volume of the algae-containing liquid; Using the difference in specific gravity between the precoat material and the algal bodies to separate the precoat material and the algal bodies contained in the recovered liquid.
[3] An algae concentration system comprising a spring-type filter and a collection unit that collects algal bodies filtered by the spring-type filter.
[4] The apparatus further includes a bucket portion for storing the algae-containing liquid to be filtered by the spring filter, and the recovery portion has a container for storing the filtered alga bodies, and the volume of the container is the same as that of the bucket portion. The algal concentration system according to [3], wherein the algal concentration system is smaller than the volume.
[5] A difference in specific gravity between the precoat material and the algal body, a spring type filter whose filter surface is covered with a precoat material, a collection unit for collecting the alga bodies and precoat material filtered by the spring type filter, and An algae collection system comprising: a separation unit that separates the collected precoat material and the alga bodies by use.
[6] The apparatus further includes a bucket portion that stores the algae-containing liquid to be filtered by the spring-type filter, and the collection portion includes a container that stores the filtered alga bodies. The algal recovery system according to [5], wherein the algal recovery system is smaller than the volume.

  According to the present invention, a large amount of culture solution can be easily concentrated or recovered, and clogging of a spring-type filter used for filtration can be easily eliminated.

It is a mimetic diagram of algae concentration system 10 of an example of the present invention. It is the schematic diagram which showed the procedure of the concentration method of the algae containing liquid using the algal concentration system 10 of an example of this invention. It is a mimetic diagram of algae recovery system 20 of an example of the present invention. It is the schematic diagram which showed the procedure of the algae collection method using the algae collection system 20 of an example of this invention. It is the schematic diagram which showed the procedure of the algae collection method using the algae collection system 30 of an example of this invention.

《Algae concentration system》
The first aspect of the present invention is an algae collection system comprising a spring-type filter and a collection unit for collecting the algal bodies filtered by the spring-type filter. As an example, the algae concentration system shown in FIG. System 10 is mentioned.

  The algae concentration system 10 includes a bucket portion 1 having a container capable of storing (holding) an algae culture solution for filtration, a cylindrical spring filter 3, and a collection having a container in which the spring filter 3 is disposed. Part 2, pump P1 connected to each container of bucket part 1 and recovery part 2, compressor P2 connected to one end of spring-type filter 3, piping connecting each part (thick line in the figure), And a valve.

  In the illustrated example, the liquid that has flowed from the container of the bucket unit 1 into the container of the recovery unit 2 via the pipe 1a by the pump P1 increases the internal pressure of the container of the recovery unit 2, and the liquid is It connects so that it may filter toward an inner space part. The filtrate is discharged from one end of the spring filter 3 to the outside through the pipe 3a. Further, air can be injected into the inner space of the spring type filter 3 through the pipe 3b by the compressor P2. The bottom of the container of the collection unit 2 has a valve and a pipe 2a for carrying out the fluid in the container to the outside.

The said container of the collection | recovery part 2 can hold | maintain the algal body when the algal body filtered by the filtration surface (outer peripheral surface) of the spring type filter 3 is peeled off from the filtration surface, and falls.
The volume of the container of the collection unit 2 is smaller than the volume of the container of the bucket unit 1.

  As the spring-type filter 3, a known filter is applied. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3124901, a wire having a substantially circular or polygonal cross section is wound in a coil shape, and adjacent outer peripheral surfaces of the wires are adjacent to each other. Are formed in a circular arc shape, and a minute gap is formed between adjacent wires. The size of the minute gap is appropriately set according to the size of the algal bodies to be filtered.

<Method for concentrating algae-containing liquid>
In the second aspect of the present invention, the algae-containing liquid is filtered with a spring-type filter, the algae bodies are accumulated on the filtration surface of the spring-type filter, and the fluid that flows backward through the spring-type filter is passed through and accumulated on the filtration surface. And a step of removing the algal bodies and collecting the algal bodies in a collection liquid having a volume smaller than the volume of the algae-containing liquid.
As an example of the concentration method, a case where the method is performed using the algal concentration system 10 will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, an algae culture solution containing algae such as an algae culture solution is introduced into the container of the bucket unit 1. Next, the algae culture solution is fed from the bucket unit 1 into the container of the recovery unit 2 through the pipe 1a by the pump P1 (FIG. 2 (i)). By this liquid feeding, the inside of the container of the collection unit 2 becomes positive pressure, and the algae culture solution that contacts the filtration surface (outer surface) of the cylindrical spring filter 3 is filtered. During the filtration, the liquid component is filtered into the inner space, while a relatively large solid component such as algae does not pass through the fine gaps of the filtration surface of the spring filter 3 and remains on the filtration surface. When the algae culture solution is continuously filtered, algae accumulate on the filtration surface of the spring-type filter 3 (FIG. 2 (ii)). After filtering an appropriate amount of algae culture solution, supply of the algae culture solution from the bucket unit 1 is stopped, air is sent to the inner space of the spring-type filter 3 by the compressor P2, and a small amount of air is made to flow backward to the filtration surface side. (Flow in the direction opposite to the filtration direction). This air can be replaced with other fluids, and may be a liquid such as water. Due to the reverse flow, the algae mass accumulated on the filtration surface of the spring filter 3 is peeled off and collected in the container of the collection unit 2 (FIG. 2 (iii)). Thereafter, the recovered liquid containing the collected algae is carried out from the carrying-out valve of the collecting unit 2 to the outside through the pipe 2a.

According to the above algae concentration method, the total volume (for example, 20 parts by volume) of the algae-containing liquid supplied from the bucket unit 1 and filtered by the spring filter 3 is the volume of the recovered liquid (for example, 1 by 1). The algae-containing liquid can be concentrated at a magnification (20 times in this example) divided by (volume part).
In addition, it has been troublesome to remove the clogging of the conventional porous filter by washing, but in this method, even if the filtration surface of the spring filter 3 is temporarily clogged, it is accumulated in a reverse flow. By removing the algae mass that has been removed, clogging can be eliminated instantly.

《Algae recovery system》
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spring-type filter whose filtration surface is covered with a pre-coat material, an algae body filtered by the spring-type filter and a recovery unit for collecting the pre-coat material, the pre-coat material and the algal body. This is an algal recovery system including a separation unit that separates the collected precoat material and the algal bodies using the difference in specific gravity. As an example, there is an algae collection system 20 shown in FIG.

The algae collection system 20 has the same configuration as the algae concentration system 10 described above, and the entire filtration surface of the spring-type filter 3 is covered with the precoat material 4.
As the precoat material 4, a known filter aid is applied. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3124901, one or more powders selected from diatomaceous earth, pulp powder, activated carbon powder, and barleystone powder, and diatomaceous earth Or a mixed powder thereof.

As thickness of the layer (precoat layer) of the precoat material 4 which covers the filtration surface of the spring type filter 3, about 1-5 mm is preferable, for example.
When the thickness is 1 mm or more, it is possible to sufficiently obtain effects such as filtration leakage of algal bodies (passing through the filtration surface), clogging prevention, or delay due to the provision of the precoat layer.
If the thickness is 5 mm or less, it is possible to suppress an excessive increase in pressure required for filtration.

  The algae collection system 20 includes a separation unit 5 having a container that is connected to the collection unit 2 and receives and holds the collected liquid of the collection unit 2. The recovered liquid contains algae and the precoat material 4, and the alga body having a low specific gravity and the precoat material 4 having a high specific gravity are separated using the difference in specific gravity between them in the container of the separation unit 5. . The separation unit 5 may be a simple water tank that receives the recovered liquid, or may have a device that centrifuges the recovered liquid in order to accelerate the precipitation of the precoat material 4. The separation unit 5 includes a valve and a pipe for carrying out a liquid component containing the separated algae, and a window for collecting the separated precoat material 4 (not shown).

《Algae recovery method》
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a step of collecting algae bodies on the surface of the precoat material by filtering algae-containing liquid with the spring type filter using a spring type filter whose filter surface is covered with a precoat material. A fluid that flows backward through a spring filter is passed through, the precoat material covering the filtration surface and the accumulated algal bodies are peeled off, and the precoat material and the algal bodies are recovered in a recovery liquid having a volume smaller than the volume of the algae-containing liquid. And a step of separating the precoat material and the algal bodies contained in the recovered liquid using a difference in specific gravity between the precoat material and the algal bodies.
As an example of this recovery method, a case where the algae recovery system 20 is used will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, the dispersion liquid of the precoat material 4 is introduced into the container of the bucket unit 1. Next, the dispersion liquid is fed into the container of the recovery unit 2 from the bucket unit 1 through the pipe 1a by the pump P1 (FIG. 4A). In the container of the collection unit 2, the dispersion liquid that has contacted the filtration surface (outer surface) of the cylindrical spring filter 3 is filtered with the liquid component inside, while the precoat material 4 is a spring filter. 3 does not pass through the fine gap of the filtration surface 3 and remains on the filtration surface. When the dispersion is continuously filtered, a precoat layer is formed by depositing the precoat material 4 on the filtration surface of the spring-type filter 3 (FIG. 4B).

  Next, an algae culture solution containing algae such as an algae culture solution is introduced into the container of the bucket unit 1, and the algae culture solution is sent from the bucket unit 1 to the container of the recovery unit 2 through the pipe 1 a by the pump P 1. (FIG. 4 (c)). In the container of the collection unit 2, the algae culture liquid that has contacted the precoat layer made of the precoat material 4 formed on the cylindrical spring-type filter 3 is filtered into the inner space while the algae culture solution is compared. A large solid component does not pass through the fine gap (porous structure) of the precoat layer, and remains on the surface or inside of the precoat layer. When the algae culture solution is continuously filtered, algae accumulate on the surface of the precoat layer (FIG. 4 (d)).

  After filtering an appropriate amount of algae culture solution, supply of the algae culture solution from the bucket unit 1 is stopped, air is sent to the inner space of the spring-type filter 3 by the compressor P2, and a small amount of air is made to flow backward to the filtration surface side. (Flow in the direction opposite to the filtration direction). This air can be replaced with other fluids, and may be a liquid such as water. Due to the reverse flow, the algae mass and the precoat layer accumulated on the filtration surface of the spring-type filter 3 are peeled off and collected in the container of the collection unit 2 (FIG. 4 (e)).

  The collected liquid containing the collected algae and the precoat material 4 is carried out from the carry-out valve of the collection unit 2 to the container of the separation unit 5 through the pipe 2a. In this container, the recovered liquid is allowed to stand or centrifuged, so that the precoat material 4 is precipitated at the bottom of the container, the algae-containing liquid becomes a supernatant liquid, and the precoat material 4 and the algae-containing liquid are solid-liquid separated ( FIG. 4 (f)). The separated precoat material 4 can be reused.

According to the above algae collection method, the total volume (for example, 20 parts by volume) of the algae-containing liquid supplied from the bucket unit 1 and filtered by the spring filter 3 is used as the volume of the collected liquid (for example, 1 by 1). The algae-containing liquid can be concentrated at a magnification (20 times in this example) divided by (volume part).
Moreover, since the precoat layer is formed on the filtration surface of the spring type filter 3, it is excellent in filtration efficiency, and can prevent or delay the filtration leakage (passing through the filtration surface) or clogging of alga bodies.
Furthermore, it has been troublesome to clean the clogging of the conventional porous filter, but in this method, even if the precoat layer is clogged, the spring-type filter 3 flows backward to peel off the precoat layer. Then, since it is decomposed into the powder of the original precoat material 4, clogging can be eliminated instantly.

The algae recovery method of the fourth aspect of the present invention can also be implemented using, for example, the algae recovery system 30 shown in FIG.
The precoat tank 1B stores a dispersion of a precoat material. First, the dispersion liquid is sent from the precoat tank 1B into the container of the recovery unit 2 through the pipe 1Ba by the pump P1. In the dispersion liquid that has contacted the filtration surface of the cylindrical spring-type filter 3 in the container of the collection unit 2, the liquid component is filtered into the inner space, while a precoat layer formed by depositing a precoat material is formed on the filtration surface. It is formed. The filtrate is sent to the precoat tank via the pipe 3c and the pipe 1Bb.

  Next, the algae culture solution is fed from the bucket unit 1A storing the algae culture solution into the container of the recovery unit 2 through the pipe 1Aa by the pump P1. Algae culture liquid that has contacted the precoat layer on the filtration surface of the cylindrical spring-type filter 3 in the container of the collection unit 2 is filtered with liquid components into the inner space, while relatively large solid components such as algae are Stays on the surface and inside of the precoat layer. When the algae culture solution is continuously filtered, algae accumulate on the surface of the precoat layer. The filtrate is sent to the filtrate water tank 6 through the pipe 3a.

  After filtering an appropriate amount of the algae culture solution, supply of the algae culture solution from the bucket portion 1A is stopped, and air is sent to the inner space of the spring-type filter 3 through the pipe 3b by the compressor P2 and to the filtration surface side. Back up a small amount of air. Alternatively, the filtered water is sent from the filtered water tank 6 to the inner space of the spring type filter 3 via the pipe 6a by the pump P3, and a small amount of filtered water is caused to flow backward to the filtration surface side. Due to this reverse flow, the algae mass and the precoat layer accumulated on the filtration surface of the spring filter 3 are peeled off and collected in the container of the collection unit 2.

  Subsequently, the collected liquid containing the collected algae and precoat material is carried out from the carrying-out valve of the collecting unit 2 to the container of the separating unit 5 through the pipe 2a. In this container, the precoat material and the algae-containing liquid are subjected to solid-liquid separation using the difference in specific gravity between the precoat material and the algal bodies. The separated precoat material is sent to the precoat tank 1B through the pipe 5a. The supernatant liquid containing the algal bodies concentrated in the collection unit 2 is collected separately from the precoat material.

  The configurations and combinations thereof in the embodiments described above are examples, and the addition, omission, replacement, and other modifications of the configurations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bucket part, 2 ... Collection | recovery part, 3 ... Spring type filter, 4 ... Precoat material, 5 ... Separation part, P ... Pump, 6 ... Precoat tank

Claims (6)

Filtering the algae-containing liquid with a spring-type filter, and accumulating algal bodies on the filtration surface of the spring-type filter;
Passing the fluid flowing back through the spring-type filter, peeling off the algal bodies accumulated on the filtration surface, and collecting the algal bodies in a collection liquid having a volume smaller than the volume of the algae-containing liquid;
A method for concentrating a liquid containing algae, comprising: Using a spring-type filter whose filtration surface is covered with a precoat material, filtering the algae-containing liquid with the spring-type filter, and accumulating algal bodies on the surface of the precoat material;
The precoat material and the algal body are passed through a fluid that flows backward through the spring filter, the precoat material covering the filtration surface and the accumulated algal bodies are peeled off, and the collected liquid has a volume smaller than the volume of the algae-containing liquid. Recovering
Utilizing the difference in specific gravity between the precoat material and the algal bodies, separating the precoat material and the algal bodies contained in the recovered liquid;
A method for recovering algae, comprising: A spring type filter,
A collection unit for collecting the algal bodies filtered by the spring type filter;
Algae concentration system characterized by comprising. A bucket portion for storing algae-containing liquid to be filtered by the spring filter;
The recovery unit has a container for storing the filtered algal bodies,
The algae concentration system according to claim 3, wherein the volume of the container is smaller than the volume of the bucket part. A spring-type filter whose filtration surface is covered with a precoat material;
A collection unit for collecting the algal bodies and precoat material filtered by the spring filter;
Utilizing the difference in specific gravity between the precoat material and the algal bodies, a separation unit that separates the collected precoat material and the algal bodies;
An algae collection system comprising: A bucket portion for storing algae-containing liquid to be filtered by the spring filter;
The recovery unit has a container for storing the filtered algal bodies,
The algae collection system according to claim 5, wherein the volume of the container is smaller than the volume of the bucket portion.

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