Clays tailings flocculation using bio-based flocculants from Nannochloropsis gaditana

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dc.contributor.authorHuapaya, Katiuska
dc.contributor.authorGrisales, Jeferson
dc.contributor.authorBotero, Yesica
dc.contributor.authorSalamanca, Alexandra
dc.contributor.authorLara, Paloma
dc.contributor.authorCisternas, Luis A
dc.contributor.authorJeldres, Ricardo
dc.contributor.authorJeison, David
dc.contributor.authorPanico, Antonio
dc.contributor.authorZapata, Manuel
dc.contributor.authorRivas, Mariella
dc.date.accessioned2026-08-28T02:20:17Z
dc.date.available2026-08-28T02:20:17Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractIn copper mining water recirculation is a crucial aspect, with approximately 70% used during the ore processing stage being recirculated. After extraction, the process water has a high concentration of clays, which exert a deleterious effect on mineral concentration, so the industry employs flocculation processes to remove them using chemical flocculants derived from polyacrylamide, which are toxic and persistent in the environment. The development of bio-based flocculants derived from microalgae represents a sustainable alternative for clay removal. Therefore, sedimentation tests were performed using the Jar-test method with Nannochloropsis gaditana to remove kaolinite-type clay. The sedimented flocs were subjected to various analyses, including zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The zeta potential of N. gaditana is negative in deionized water across a pH ranging between 2 and 11, whereas in seawater only at pH between 7 and 9. Nannochloropsis gaditana was evaluated under different conditions (live cells, boiled cells, wet biomass, and freeze-dried biomass). Live and boiled cells were the most effective in kaolinite removal, as they instantly reduced turbidity to 76 FNU, achieving a sedimentation efficiency close to 97% at pH 7, which favored seawater clarification. Sedimentation efficiency was higher when using 10 g L−1 of live N. gaditana cells compared to the chemical flocculant used as a control. Finally, FT-IR was used to determine the degree of kaolinite absorption on the surface of microalgae, and showed that the presence of carboxylic functional groups and polysaccharide amides on the cell surface favors this interaction.
dc.description.sponsorshipUnidad de Equipamiento Cientifico- MAINI(R)-UCN; FONDEQUIP [EQM/220028]
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s10811-025-03582-1
dc.identifier.issn0921-8971
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorioabierto.uantof.cl/handle/uantof/740
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.relation.urihttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10811-025-03582-1
dc.rights© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025
dc.sourceJournal of Applied Phycology
dc.subjectWater
dc.subjectMicroalgae
dc.subjectClay
dc.subjectFlocculants
dc.subjectTailings
dc.titleClays tailings flocculation using bio-based flocculants from Nannochloropsis gaditana
dc.typeArticle
oaire.citation.volume37
oaire.citationEndPage3512
oaire.citationIssue5
oaire.citationStartPage3501
organization.identifier.rorhttps://ror.org/04eyc6d95
organization.legalNameUniversidad de Antofagasta
uantof.identificator.departmentDepartamento de Biotecnología
uantof.identificator.facultyFacultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos
uantof.identificator.facultyFacultad de Ingeniería
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