Magnetic separation has been utilized for the removal of microalgae for nearly forty years. Due to its advantages compared to traditional harvesting methods, magnetophoretic harvesting of microalgal cells has received much attention in recent years. In this context, synthesized magnetic particles for microalgae harvesting are summarized in this review. In addition, the particle-cell interaction and factors influencing the separation process are discussed as well as the feasibility of its scale-up applications using a magnetic separator. Furthermore, the downstream techniques including the extraction of desired products and the reuse of the culture medium and magnetic particles are also assessed. Finally, the current challenges are outlined and future directions to achieve efficient and economic magnetic harvesting of microalgae are discussed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.