Extracellular　polymeric　substances　(EPS)　excreted　by　microalgae　are　effective　for　microalgal　flocculation.　An　auto-flocculation　strategy　was　conducted　by　adding　adequate　glycine　into　the　medium,　stimulating　EPS　secretion　to　achieve　auto-flocculation,　and　recycling　the　supernatant　medium　for　further　cultivation.　Bound　EPS　positively　corresponded　with　the　solid　concentration　achieved.　Increasing　the　mixing　time　enhanced　the　secretion　of　bound　EPS　but　the　influence　of　glycine　was　affected　by　light　intensity.　Increasing　the　glycine　dose　decreased　the　production　of　bound　EPS　with　light　intensity　of　250 μmol　m−2　s−1,　but　increased　the　production　of　bound　EPS　with　light　intensity　of　125 μmol　m−2　s−1.　Maximum　solid　concentration　of　21.2 g l−1　with　biomass　recovery　rate　of　71 %　was　achieved　under　light　intensity　of　250 μmol　m−2　s−1,　mixing　time　of　3 days　and　glycine　at　0.1 g l−1.　©　2014,　Springer　Science+Business　Media　Dordrecht.