Harvesting fresh water and marine algae by magnetic separation: Screening of separation parameters and high gradient magnetic filtration

► Magnetic separation for efficient harvesting of fresh water and marine algae. ► High separation efficiencies >95% can be obtained. ► Fumed silica-coated magnetite as alternative to precipitated magnetite. ► Separation efficiency depends on particle concentration, pH and medium composition. ► Scalability is possible by means of high gradient magnetic filtration.