Electro-coagulation floatation (ECF) is a foam-floatation dewatering method that has been shown to be a highly effective, rapid, and scalable separation methodology. In this manuscript, an in-depth analysis of the gas and flocculant levels observed during the process is provided, with microbubbles observed in the 5–80 μm size range at a concentration of 102–103 bubbles mL−1. Electrolysis of microalgae culture was then observed, demonstrating both effective separation using aluminium electrodes (nine microalgal species tested, 1–40 μm size range, motile and non-motile, marine and freshwater), and sterilisation of culture through bleaching with inert titanium electrodes. Atomic force microscopy was used to visualise floc formation in the presence and absence of algae, showing nanoscale structures on the magnitude of 40–400 nm and entrapped microalgal cells. Improvements to aid industrial biotechnology processing were investigated: protein-doping was found to improve foam stability without inducing cell lysis, and an oxalate buffer wash regime was found to dissolve the flocculant whilst producing no observable difference in the final algal lipid or pigment profiles, leaving the cells viable at the end of the process. ECF separated microalgal culture had an algal biomass loading of 13% and as such was ideal for direct down-stream processing through hydrothermal liquefaction. High bio-crude yields were achieved, though this was reduced slightly on addition of the Al(OH)3 after ECF, with carbon being distributed away to the aqueous and solid residue phases. The amenability and compatibility of ECF to integration with, or replacement of, existing centrifugation and settling processes suggests this process may be of significant interest to the biotechnology industry.

Diatoms are a group of silicified algae that play a major role in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Diatom chloroplasts were acquired by secondary endosymbiosis and exhibit important structural and functional differences from the primary plastids of land plants and green algae. Many functions of primary plastids, including photoacclimation and inorganic carbon acquisition, are regulated by calcium-dependent signalling processes. Calcium signalling has also been implicated in the photoprotective responses of diatoms; however, the nature of calcium elevations in diatom chloroplasts and their wider role in cell signalling remains unknown. Using genetically encoded calcium indicators, we find that the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum exhibits dynamic calcium elevations within the chloroplast stroma. Stromal calcium ([Ca²⁺]_str) acts independently from the cytosol and is not elevated by stimuli that induce large cytosolic calcium ([Ca²⁺]_cyt) elevations. In contrast, high light and exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) induce large, sustained [Ca²⁺]_str elevations that are not replicated in the cytosol. Measurements using the fluorescent H₂O₂ sensor roGFP2-Oxidant Receptor Peroxidase 1 (Orp1) indicate that [Ca²⁺]_str elevations induced by these stimuli correspond to the accumulation of H₂O₂ in the chloroplast. [Ca²⁺]_str elevations were also induced by adding methyl viologen, which generates superoxide within the chloroplast, and by treatments that disrupt non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). The findings indicate that diatoms generate specific [Ca²⁺]_str elevations in response to high light and oxidative stress that likely modulate the activity of calcium-sensitive components in photoprotection and other regulatory pathways.

Seaweeds contain many varied and commercially valuable components, from individual pigments and metabolites through to whole biomass, and yet they remain an under cultivated and underutilised commodity. Currently, commercial exploitation of seaweeds is predominantly limited to whole biomass consumption or single product extracts for the food industry. The development of a seaweed biorefinery, based around multiple products and services, could provide an important opportunity to exploit new and currently underexplored markets. Here, we assessed the native and invasive seaweeds on the South West coast of the UK to determine their characteristics and potential for exploitation through a biorefinery pipeline, looking at multiple components including pigments, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and other metabolites.

Diatoms are a group of silicified algae that play a major role in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Diatom chloroplasts were acquired by secondary endosymbiosis and exhibit important structural and functional differences from the primary plastids of land plants and green algae. Many functions of primary plastids, including photoacclimation and inorganic carbon acquisition, are regulated by calcium-dependent signalling processes. Calcium signalling has also been implicated in the photoprotective responses of diatoms, although the nature of calcium elevations in diatom chloroplasts and their wider role in cell signalling remains unknown. Using genetically encoded calcium indicators, we find that the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum exhibits dynamic chloroplast calcium elevations that are distinct from those found in land plants. Chloroplast calcium ([Ca ²⁺ ] _chl ) acts independently from the cytosol and is not elevated by stimuli that induce large cytosolic calcium ([Ca ²⁺ ] _cyt ) elevations. In contrast, high light and exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) induce large, sustained calcium elevations in the chloroplast stroma that are not replicated in the cytosol. Measurements using the fluorescent H ₂ O ₂ sensor roGFP2-Orp1 indicate that [Ca ²⁺ ] _chl elevations induced by these stimuli correspond to the accumulation of H ₂ O ₂ in the chloroplast. [Ca ²⁺ ] _chl elevations were also induced by the addition of methyl viologen, which acts to generate superoxide within the chloroplast, and by treatments that disrupt non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). The findings indicate that diatoms generate specific calcium elevations in the chloroplast in response to high light and oxidative stress that likely modulate the activity of calcium-sensitive components in photoprotection and other regulatory pathways.