Denmark's LiqTech International Inc has received a purchase order of around US$ 300,000 for a prototype filtration system to be used in an algae biomass project.

 

The prototype system will be used to concentrate an algae stream as a part of the harvesting process. Preliminary tests have shown that the LiqTech SiC membranes offer a higher throughput, high algae concentration and require less energy compared with other membrane products.

 

LiqTech says the global algae biomass market is worth between � 3.5 and 5 billion, with a high level of participation from small and medium sized enterprises. Of this total, the health-food sector accounts for � 1.5 billion and aquaculture applications account for � 0.5 billion.

 

Finn Helmer, LiqTech CEO, remarked, "The algae market has been identified as one of our major emerging market opportunities. More efficient harvesting processes are required to reduce production cost and the use of SiC membranes will be a key element in reducing cost thereby improving profitability for the end-users."

 

"LiqTech is currently active in this field in Austalia, North America, Europe and the Middle East, working together with market leading players. We expect to see more orders for prototype systems and we are actively bidding for a few large projects," Helmer added.