About Sanjaya
Sanjaya graduated with a Master of Science by Research in Biotechnology at Katmandu University in Nepal. He conducted his master thesis work on the flocculation of several microalgal species from the Aquatic Biology Lab at KU Leuven Kulak. To continue his passion for exploring the infinite potential of tiny green algal cells, he joined the ACC group as a Ph.D. student in October 2019 under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Dries Vandamme. His work is focused on optimizing the coagulation-sedimentation-based dewatering of microalgal cells. Outside of the lab walls, he says he prefers to do “nothing”- the complete ceasing of mind and corporeal actions! Probably the most challenging feat in this 21st-century technocratic metaverse.
The role of extracellular soluble algal organic matter (AOM) in flocculation-based harvesting of microalgae biomass
In the global quest for green, circular economy-based feedstock for various industrial applications, microalgae-based biomass has gained accelerated global interest. Microalgae are highly diverse, rapidly growing, photosynthetic, aquatic microbes-accumulating plethora of carbohydrates, protein, lipid, pigments, and bioactive molecules. They are being studied for extensive potential applications― from futuristic 3D-printing biomaterials to bulk chemicals for pharmaceutical/medicinal, food, feed, and fuels. Specific barriers in the biomass production chain need to be addressed to upgrade these applications from the lab to the industry. One of the most challenging barriers is separating (dewatering/harvesting) microalgal cells from the cultivation media.
Sanjaya’s Ph.D. research is focused on coagulants (FeCl3, Chitosan, NaOH) induced flocculation-sedimentation-based harvesting of microalgae, which is one of the most demonstrated dewatering techniques for bulk harvesting. During the flocculation process, the interaction between the cells and the coagulant occurs in a dynamic culture environment: consisting of excess media nutrients and a significant amount of extracellular soluble algal organic matter (AOM) released by cells. To achieve the optimum flocculation-harvesting efficiency of cells in this dynamic chemical environment, understanding the molecular interactions between “cells-coagulants-AOM” in media is essential. Thus, his project investigates the influence of soluble AOM on the coagulation-flocculation process. The overall objective is to enhance the techno-economic performance of coagulation-sedimentation-based microalgal biomass harvesting.
