BIOREMEDIATION OF FISH WASTEWATER USING A MODIFIED AERATED BEADS BIOLOGICAL FILTER

Abstract

Bioremediation is a treatment that uses naturally occurring organisms (plants and animals) as agents of degrading pollutants to break down hazardous substances into less toxic or non-toxic substances. research work aim is to get treated water suitable for other purposes such as re-farming out again and used to irrigate farms, especially vegetables and used in the cultivation of surfaces so that it works to reduce the burden on the Nile waters and contribute to the bridging part of the gap water poverty in Egypt. Experimental work was conducted in high pressure resistance glass aquarium supplied with two filter types; filter (A) spongy filter element, and aerated plastic granules (beads), filter (C), Crystal. Chemical analysis of initial water samples shows that EC of 1.23 mmohs/cm, pH of 7.4, ammonia concentration increased gradually from 5.59 to 183.75 mg/L after 11 days then decreased to 2.63 mg/L due biofiltration achievement and still remaining at a level under 25 mg/L till experiment end. Also, ammonia concentrations decreased to 2.63 mg/L for filter (A) and to 1.31 for filter (C) that was due to reverse cleaning of biofilter media to control a biomass clogging. Blank water nitrate concentration increased gradually from 0.00 to 26.69 mg/L after 14 days then decreased to 1.75, then increased gradually again to a level of 45.5 mg/L after 27 days, due to loading increasing which led to increase competition for space and oxygen and affect biofilter capacity to complete nitrification process. Nitrate concentration of filter (A) and (C) increased progressively from 0.88 to 21.88 mg/L for filter (A) and from 0.44 to 43.75 mg/L for filter (C) respectively, after 11 days from experiment beginning, acclimation periods for microbial population. Ammonia removal efficiencies ranged from 4.02 to 63.99 % for filter (A) and from 11.9 to 78.24 % for filter (C), ammonia elimination capacities were fluctuated between 2.28 and 67.98 g/L. h for filter (A) and between 6.84 and 113.32 g/L. h for filter (C) respectively.