Current progress and future prospect of microalgal biomass harvest using various flocculation technologies

• Approaches of various bio-based flocculation methods are comprehensively summarized.
• Possible underlying mechanisms of bio-based flocculation are discussed.
• Prospect of genetic engineering of microalgae for self-flocculation is proposed.

Microalgae have been extensively studied for the production of various valuable products. Application of microalgae for the production of renewable energy has also received increasing attention in recent years. However, high cost of microalgal biomass harvesting is one of the bottlenecks for commercialization of microalgae-based industrial processes. Considering harvesting efficiency, operation economics and technological feasibility, flocculation is a superior method to harvest microalgae from mass culture. In this article, the latest progress of various microalgal cell harvesting methods via flocculation is reviewed with the emphasis on the current progress and prospect in environmentally friendly bio-based flocculation. Harvesting microalgae through bio-based flocculation is a promising component of the low-cost microalgal biomass production technology.