Harvesting microalgal biomass using submerged microfiltration membranes

► A submerged microfiltration membrane was applied for harvesting Chlorella vulgaris and Phaeodactylum tricornutum broth. ► The effect of algal species, up-concentration level and membrane fouling were studied and a cost estimation was performed. ► Both algal broths have a comparable filterability. ► The filterability of algal broths was function of up-concentration and membrane properties. ► The cost estimation shows the promising prospect of proposed filtration-centrifugation process.