Emerging Technologies for Selective Microbial Decontamination in Algal Applications: A Focus on Pulsed Electric Field and Plasma

The increasing demand for sustainable algae-based solutions for food, feed, biofuels and pharmaceuticals is hampered by contamination problems in open cultivation systems. Harmful microorganisms such as protozoa, bacteria, and viruses disrupt algae growth and limit commercial viability. Conventional decontamination methods are often non-selective and compromise the integrity of the algae. This project proposes a novel, selective, and non-thermal strategy to control microorganisms using pulsed electric fields (PEF) and plasma technologies in a co-culture system of Chlorella vulgaris and Delftia spp. PEF enables targeted inactivation by exploiting species-specific electroporation thresholds, while plasma and plasma-activated water (PAW) enable effective oxidative decontamination. The combination is intended to modulate the microbial balance and increase the productivity of the algae without damaging functional properties. In this project, the PEF and plasma parameters will be optimized for selective bacterial control, the effects of the combined treatment will be evaluated and important data for future applications in industrial biotechnology will be obtained. The hypothesis is that finely tuned PEF and plasma treatments enable selective pasteurization in nutrient-rich systems, preserving the algae while reducing harmful microbes. This research aims to establish fundamental principles for microbial engineering in complex algal environments to ultimately improve the sustainability, product quality, and competitiveness of the European bioindustry.

Keywords:

Plasma treatment, pulsed electric field, treatment chamber, valuable compounds extraction, microalgae, microbial decontamination, plasma-activated water

Acronym: SELMIKROSAL

Project ID: Nr. S-MIP-25-99

Call: P-MIP-25-298

Total value of the project: 199 997,00 Eur (LEI part: 75 252,00 Eur).