Drying Kinetics of Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris: A Thermogravimetric and Differential Scanning Calorimetry Study

Microalgae are a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms that thrive in various habitats and have significant potential as alternatives to fossil fuels and sources of valuable chemicals like PUFAs, carotenoids, and antioxidants. Despite their efficiency in biomass production, utilizing microalgae effectively poses challenges. Microalgae grow in aqueous media and must be dried before being used for biofuel production, chemical extraction, or nutraceutical products. While extensive research exists on microalgae's benefits and uses, few studies focus on drying methods. This study examines the drying kinetics of Chlorella vulgaris . Drying behavior data was obtained using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Results showed that biomass moisture content decreased rapidly with increasing temperature, peaking at 65–80°C. Four non-isothermal drying models were developed using popular drying kinetics models for agricultural products and evaluated based on the coefficient of determination (R²) and reduced chi-square (χ²). Page’s model emerged as the best fit for describing the drying kinetics of Chlorella vulgaris .