Projects
Ecological control of predators in intensive microalgae cultivation systems. KU Leuven
Microalgae with essential assets
Thomas More Kempen
Research question: What are the challenges and opportunities for realizing a sustainable algae chain in Flanders and what solutions lie ahead?
It is certain that protein consumption in Flanders is not sustainable. More animal proteins are consumed than are good for health and climate. Not only ...
A circular economy platform for treatment of wastewater by blue green microalgae Ghent University
Water pollutions and increasing atmospheric CO2 levels are two critical environmental issues causing significant harmful effects on the environment and human health. Biological wastewater treatment using microalgae has been intensively studied in recent years. However, its implementation has been hindered due to challenges associated with the high costs of harvesting and drying steps. Therefore we aimed to design an integrated platform ...
Development of a bio-based and reusable flocculant for harvesting microalgae based on cellulose nanocrystals KU Leuven
Coagulation-Flocculation as a sustainable harvesting process for microalgae grown in wastewater Ghent University
Understanding in-depth the antioxidant mechanism of n-3 LC-PUFA rich photoautotrophic microalgae KU Leuven
Carbon and nutrient sequestration in phototrophic biofilms: the role of mutualistic and antagonistic interactions among microalgae and prokaryotes Ghent University
The aim of this proposal is to investigate the role of algae-bacteria interactions on the carbon and nutrient sequestration potential of phototrophic biofilms. This will be done using a combination of field and laboratory studies to obtain a better insight into the nature of the associations between microalgae and prokaryotes in biofilm communities along a nutrient loading gradient, and how the microalgae-microalgae and microalgae-prokaryote ...
The oxidative stability of n-3 LC-PUFA in meat batter model systems enriched with microalgae KU Leuven
The health benefits of omega-3 long chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) are generally recognized. Unfortunately, in most Western countries, the recommended daily intake of these compounds is rarely met. Therefore, enrichment of commonly occurring foods can boost intake of these fatty acids. Meat products are an interesting target, as they contain high-quality proteins and are a source of iron. Meat products could be enriched with ...
Exploring the endogenous potential of microalgae in fruit and vegetable processing. KU Leuven
Fruits and vegetables as well as microalgae contain a huge, but largely unexplored, endogenous potential from health-beneficial as well as structuring point of view. Given the difference in bioactive compounds and cell wall material present in both sources, the question arises whether and to what extent they will act synergistically when combined in fruit and vegetable-based food products. In this context, the present knowledge platform aims ...