Abstract
Operation and effluent treatment costs are limiting factors for the success of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in meeting seafood demand in the United States. Adopting a capture-and-reuse waste management model similar to terrestrial agriculture farmers would allow RAS farmers to monetize effluent and offset production costs. The moisture content and nutrient profile of RAS effluent makes it a potential option for use as a hydroponic fertilizer. Treatment of RAS waste is needed to mineralize particulate-bound nutrients before becoming a viable hydroponic nutrient solution. Anaerobic treatment (AT), a method used by municipal and agricultural waste treatment facilities to reduce total solids, has been shown to successfully mineralize particulate-bound nutrients from RAS effluent. Continuously mixed anaerobic batch bioreactors were used to evaluate the degree to which AT may mineralize particulate-bound nutrients in solid RAS waste. Concentrations of twelve different macro- and micro-nutrients were analyzed in the waste before and after treatment. Effluent samples were analyzed to determine the fraction of each nutrient in the solid and aqueous forms. This study showed that AT is an effective method to mineralize particulate-bound nutrients in RAS effluent and the mineralization rate data may be used to design a pilot-scaled flow-through RAS effluent treatment system.
Highlights
Land based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are a promising option to enhance the aquaculture industry and provide fresh seafood in non-coastal regions due to their location independence and water conservation [1,2]
This study focused on the treatment effects of Anaerobic treatment (AT) for increasing the plant availability of nutrients and decreasing the organic carbon (OC) and TSS concentrations of aquaponic/RAS effluent as compared to an abiotic control
This study confirmed that AT reduced the TSS and TOC concentration of aquaponic/RAS
Summary
Land based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are a promising option to enhance the aquaculture industry and provide fresh seafood in non-coastal regions due to their location independence and water conservation [1,2]. A well-maintained RAS typically uses from 90–99% less water than conventional aquaculture systems [3] The rapid removal and transformation of waste allows high rates of water reuse, setting RAS apart from other forms of aquaculture [3] Operating costs associated with treating and discharging captured waste effluent contribute to the prevention of RAS from achieving greater commercial success [4,5,6,7]. Adopting a capture-and-reuse waste management system similar to that utilized by terrestrial animal agriculture farmers would allow RAS farmers to turn effluent into a commodity. The high liquid content of RAS effluent provides the potential for reuse in hydroponic plant production [8,9].
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