LCA Publication on Innovative Ideas for Microalgae
ESU-services is thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research on drying options for Chlorella vulgaris. This study, conducted as part of the ProFuture project (2019-2023), represents a significant step forward in sustainable microalgae production. Thanks to Marie-Christin Baune for leading the work.
About the Project:
From 2019 to 2023, ESU-services was actively engaged in the ProFuture project, an initiative funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program. Our role involved supporting the development of innovative drying technologies through comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) analyses. This collaborative effort brought together 31 European partners, including researchers, SMEs, large companies, and industry associations.
Research Focus:
With the global population on the rise, finding sustainable protein sources is crucial. Microalgae, particularly C. vulgaris, have emerged as a promising solution. The project focused on optimizing the drying process, a critical step in microalgae production that significantly impacts product quality and production costs. We analyzed both conventional methods (freeze drying and spray drying) and innovative techniques (solar drying, pulse combustion drying, and agitated thin film drying) to determine their efficiency and environmental impact.
Abstract
The microalgae Chlorella vulgaris is an interesting emerging food source, but to compete with other alternative protein sources, production costs must be reduced. The drying process plays a critical role in production, as it ensures product stabilization and quality preservation. However, drying is a cost-intensive process and different drying methods and drying parameters can significantly affect the composition and quality of the final product. This study analyzed the effects of the conventional drying methods freeze drying (FD) and spray drying (SprD) as well as the innovative drying methods solar drying (SolD), pulse combustion drying (PCD) and agitated thin film drying (ATFD) on the nutrient composition, the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the microbial count (total bacterial count, yeasts, molds, E. coli) as well as the environmental impact and production cost. Except for ATFD, showing changes in the carbohydrate and fiber content, the effects of drying methods on nutrient composition were minor. SprD was identified as having the greatest environmental impact and being the most cost-intensive, whereas SolD performed best, with only a slight reduction in vitamin B6 and some mineral elements compared to FD. PCD performed second best but needs improvement in terms of drying yield to reduce production costs.
Key Findings:
1. Innovative Technologies Excel: Most of the analyzed innovative drying methods outperformed conventional technologies, showing higher yields and lower energy consumption.
2. Solar Drying Leads: The solar drier demonstrated the lowest environmental impacts and operational costs across all indicators.
3. Pulse Combustion Promising: This method generally ranked as the second-best option in most categories.
4. Thin Film Drying Challenges: The agitated thin film drier showed lower performance due to low yield, resulting in higher environmental impacts and operational costs.
5. Conventional Methods: Freeze drying and spray drying, while effective, generally showed higher environmental impacts compared to the innovative methods.
Implications:
These findings are crucial for the microalgae industry, offering pathways to enhance sustainability and competitiveness. By adopting these innovative drying technologies, producers can significantly reduce their environmental footprint and operational costs.
Article
Marie-Christin Baune, Edwin Januschewski, Maresa Bussa, Simon Van De Walle, Imma Gifuni, Alexandre Miguel Cavaco Rodrigues, Maria Helena Cardoso, Geert Van Royen, Andreas Juadjur, Niels Jungbluth, Nino Terjung, Massimo Castellari, Fabio Fanari (2025) Innovative vs. classical methods for drying heterotrophic Chlorella vulgaris: Impact on the nutritional properties, safety, sustainability and costs. Algal Research, Volume 86, 2025, 103913, ISSN 2211-9264.
#microalgae #alternativeproteins #ProFuture
