Thermophysical properties of the marine microalgae Nannochloropsis salina

• Measurements of density (ρ), viscosity (η) and heat capacity (cp) of microalgae
• Properties determined as function of temperature and total solid content
• Development of equations to facilitate the calculation of thermophysical properties
• Correlations represent experimental data within ± 0.15% (ρ), ± 6.0% (η) and ± 0.5% (cp)

Algae have a variety of uses, including pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, and as a potential energy source as a feedstock for biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas. To optimize the commercial production and use of algal biomass, production facilities have to be specifically designed to handle the source materials and subsequent products. This requires a knowledge of their thermophysical properties. To that end, density, viscosity, and heat capacity of the marine microalgae Nannochloropsis salina were determined experimentally at atmospheric pressure and as a function of temperature and total solid (TS) content. Correlation analyses show a relationship between experimental data, temperature, and total solid content for each of the investigated thermophysical properties. Thus, equations were developed allowing the calculation of these properties as a function of temperature and TS content.