Wastewater Pond Research Articles

Green hydrogen production and prediction using floating photovoltaic panels on wastewater ponds

Green hydrogen production and prediction using floating photovoltaic panels on wastewater ponds

Enhanced nutrient removal from aquaculture wastewater using optimized constructed wetlands: A comprehensive screening of microbial complexes, substrates, and macrophytes

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are widely used to treat wastewater from aquaculture, and their efficiency largely depends on active components like microbes, substrates, and macrophytes. This study screened various commercial microbial complexes, substrates, and macrophytes for their effectiveness in removing nitrogen and phosphorus from pond wastewater contaminated with fish feed and excreta (CPW). Four microbial complexes (MC1, MC2, MC3, and MC4) were screened, two substrate types (zeolite and ceramsite), and five common macrophytes—Pontederia crassipes (PC), Myriophyllum aquaticum (MA), Canna indica (CI), Typha latifolia (TL), and Phragmites australis (PA). Screening evaluation included COD, total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (AN), nitrate nitrogen (NN), and total phosphorus (TP) removal. Among microbial complexes, MC3 at 1.0 g/L (MC3-T2) exhibited the highest efficiency in COD (56 %), TN (66 %), AN (51 %), NN (69 %), and TP (59 %) removal. Screening of macrophytes showed that MA was most efficient with a decrease of 61 % COD, 91 % TN, 62 % AN, 84 % NN, and 69 % TP. Similarly, between both substrates, zeolite most effective, with 50–25 % COD, 12–7 % TN, 44–28 % AN, 71–47 % NN, and 45–19 % TP removal over six periods. Based on these findings, four artificial CWs were developed, with CW-2 (which carries MA, CI, MC3-T2, and zeolite) showed the highest removal of COD (57–43 %), TN (29–11 %), AN (65–28 %), NN (87–69 %), and TP (80–47 %) over eight periods. The development of CWs by utilizing these optimal components (particularly CW-2) provides highly effective solutions for excessive nutrients removal from CPW. This innovative approach presents a promising alternative for mitigating eutrophication and enhancing wastewater treatment processes.

Characterization and genomic analysis of bacteriophage VT223 infecting Salmonella enterica subsp enterica serovar Enteritidis

Bacteriophages are increasingly considered a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections. For the bacteriophage VT223, which was isolated from shrimp pond wastewater, a thorough analysis of its host range, morphology, and genome sequencing was performed. Bacteriophage VT223 exhibits high specificity towards Salmonella spp. strains, highlighting its potential as a targeted therapy for Salmonella spp. infections. Electron microscopy revealed that VT223 belongs to the Caudoviricetes, Jerseyvirus, with an icosahedral head and a non-contractile tail. This phage can infect three species within the Salmonella spp., with a short latent period of 30 minutes and a burst size of 446 PFU/infected cells. Genome sequencing revealed a 43,062 bp double-stranded DNA genome with a GC content of 49.6%. Stability tests showed that VT223 is stable over various temperatures and pH levels. Biofilm formation inhibition testing revealed that phage VT223 reduced biofilm by up to 57.7% after a four-hour treatment. In vitro studies demonstrated the lytic activity of VT223 against Salmonella enterica subsp enterica serovar Enteritidis ATCC 49223. These findings provide valuable insights into the biological properties of bacteriophage VT223 and its potential use as a biocontrol agent in livestock production and aquaculture to combat bacterial growth. Published on November 15, 2024

From Waste to Wealth: Entrepreneurial Ventures in Chitosan Extraction for Environmental Sustainability

The degradation of water quality in the environment can be attributed to the discharge of wastewater from shrimp ponds. Conversely, solid waste in the form of shrimp shells presents an entrepreneurial opportunity through the extraction of chitosan, a substance with the potential to enhance water quality while contributing to environmental sustainability. Sampling for this study was conducted at the Vannamei Nusantara Gemilang pond, located in Tambakrejo Village, Malang Regency, East Java. The research employed an experimental methodology with a quantitative approach, supplemented by a literature review. Various doses of chitosan solutions were tested on shrimp pond wastewater. The optimal results were obtained at a dosage of 80 mg/L, significantly outperforming the untreated water. The test outcomes for the 80 mg/L dosage included: BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) at 4.62 mg/L, Nitrite concentration at 0.045 mg/L, turbidity at 3.55 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units), TSS (Total Suspended Solids) at 14.6 mg/L, TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) at 2974 mg/L, pH level at 6.31, and temperature at 31.40°C. Notably, the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) levels did not meet quality standards, highlighting the need for further process optimization. These findings emphasize the potential of chitosan extraction as a sustainable solution, while also underscoring the importance of continued research into the economic feasibility of this waste-to-wealth approach. Further studies are necessary to refine the wastewater treatment process, quantify the economic benefits, and ensure the long-term viability of this entrepreneurial venture in environmental sustainability.

Nessler Method Verification for Determining Ammonia in Shrimp Pond Wastewater and Its Application in the Ammonia Adsorption Test with Lampung Natural Zeolite

Ammonia levels exceeding 0.50 mg/L can threaten organisms in aquatic environments. The Nessler method is one of the ammonia analysis methods based on the reaction between ammonia in a basic solution and Nessler reagent (K<sub>2</sub>HgI<sub>4</sub>), forming a colloidal dispersion with a brownish-yellow colour. The colour intensity is determined by spectrophotometry. This research aims to verify the Nessler method for determining ammonia levels in shrimp pond wastewater. The research results indicate that the Nessler method shows good linearity in the range of ammonia concentrations from 1 to 5 mg/L, with a correlation coefficient (R<sup>2</sup>) value of 0.9962. The precision value was determined from repeatability, expressed as %RSD (Relative Standard Deviation), i.e., 1.92%, and it meets acceptance criteria, which should be less than 0.5 of the Horwitz RSD. The accuracy obtained from the standard addition method provides a percentage recovery value of 99.25%, meeting the AOAC acceptance criteria. The detection limit and quantification limit of the technique are 0.3883 mg/L and 1.2943 mg/L, respectively. The verified method is then applied to analyze shrimp pond wastewater samples from Sriminosari Village, East Lampung, resulting in an ammonia concentration of 1.52 mg/L. The ammonia levels were then reduced by adsorption with natural zeolite Lampung, decreasing ammonia levels by 20.30%. Meanwhile, adsorption with an activated zeolite reduced the ammonia levels by 45.30%.

Isolation and Molecular Characterisation of Chlorogonium sp. from Industrial Wastewater

Microalgae are photosynthetic, unicellular microorganisms also known as phytoplankton. They are small plant-like entities. In this research, the sample were collected from cement factory in a sterilised 20L container wrapped with foil paper and were transported down to Federal University, Wukari where it was kept in refrigerator at biochemistry laboratory. Blue-Green media (BG-11) was prepared. Wastewater containing Microalgae obtained from cement wastewater pond were cultivated in BG-11 medium to determine the growth of the organism. BG-11 medium contained macronutrients, trace metals and some vitamins which aid the growth of the organism. The wastewater sample containing with suspected microalgae was inoculated (inoculum ratio = 25%) and incubated under atmospheric CO2 at room temperature (30±2°C) in our laboratory for two to three weeks during the incubation period. In order to purify the isolates, the upper growth layer was first decanted into a freshly produced medium and then plated on BG-11 media that had been solidified with 1% agar-agar. For several of the cultures, growth on the agar plates continued for around three weeks. Following repeated sub-culturing, the emerging greenish colonies were re-emerged into a sterile BG-11 agar medium. In isolation of organism from the industrial cement waste water, the isolate was identified by morphological and molecular identification by extracting the DNA, run the electrophoretic analysis and PCR using primers for 18S rRNA eukaryotic microalgal and then run the sequence analysis. The results of this study obtained, indicated that, the electrophoretic result show the band has 1800-2000base pair and the organism isolated from the industrial cement waste water were chlorogonium sp. with a percent similarity of 78.65% and accession number of OR886595 based on data Gene Bank blast results.

Phenol Biodegradation by Three Bacterial Strains Stimulated by Constant Electric Field

Objective: The aim of the present study is to compare phenol biodegradation activity of bacteria from the strains Xanthobacter autotrophicus GJ 10, Pseudomonas denitrificans and Pseudomonas putida enhanced by constant electric field in a potentiostatic mode by free cultures and immobilized cells on granulated activated carbon. Theoretical Framework: The work is based on the concept of biodegradation in constant electric field due to the enhanced removal of intermediate inhibitors produced from phenol. These intermediate may affect slightly microbial growth but the biodegradation capacity is enhanced. Method: The methodology adopted for this research comprises bioelectrochemical oxidative microbial biodegradation of phenol at constant anode potential. Results and Discussion: The obtained results revealed the positive effect of the electric field on the phenol biodegradation rate for all of the considered strains. There is certain anode potential at which the biodegradation rate is strongly affected for each strain. Research Implications: The research have both practical and theoretical implications. The practical importance consists in the enhanced biodegradation of severe pollutant as phenol is. The theoretical importance is within the specific impact of constant electric field on the enzyme activities in the studied strains. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by the innovative approach and the practical aspects. The relevance and value of this research are demosntated by enhancement of phenol biodegradation in wastewater and water ponds.

Study on the adsorption of nutrients in the wastewater of catfish ponds by the adsorbent system prepared from peat

Fabrication of adsorbent materials has been done by mixing peat and coal slag, the ratio of 70:30 by weight. The obtained material has a specific surface area S of 10.45 m2/g, rough surface morphology with many functional groups, with high adsorption capacity. The time to reach adsorption equilibrium is 120 minutes, COD adsorption capacity of 15.54 mg/g, N-NH4 adsorption capacity of 10.72 mg/g. The kinetic law of N-NH4 adsorption obeys the apparent second order type 2 equation. The N-NH4 adsorption isotherm obeys both Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The materials are used to adsorb substances in catfish pond wastewater with the criteria of BOD5, COD, N-NO3, N-NH4, total phosphorus, and treatment efficiency from 24.95 to 88.81%.

Phosphorus recycling mediated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa from eutrophic biochar

Present study focused on Phosphorus (P) enriched i.e., eutrophic biochar and its solubilization utilizing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCIM 8650). Previously established processes for lesser toxic and P rich biochar production (T-B-400, T-B-600 and T-B-800) using phosphogypsum pond wastewater soaked banana peduncles at three different pyrolysis temperatures (400, 600 and 800 °C) were utilized for the experiments. Bacteria inoculated in biochar loaded Pikovskaya (PVK) broth (modified: 0.2 g biochar/100 ml) was analyzed for 15 days about P solubilization along with control (modified broth without Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Gradual increase of P solubilization was observed with maximum values for T-B-400 and T-B-600 on 9th day in variation to 11th day of T-B-800. Different organic acids (Carbamic, Propanoic and Stearic hydrazide) ascertained through GCMS analysis along with significant pH change (7 to 3.41, 4.1 and 3.26 for T-B-400, T-B-600 and T-B-800 respectively) played major role toward P solubilization of modified PVK broth and highlighted significantly (p < 0.05) high release of P from T-B-400 (76%) than T-B-600 (65%) and T-B-800 (71%) over control. The FE-SEM, FTIR and XRD analysis (9th day: T-B-400/T-B-600; 11th day: T-B-800) of biochar residues in modified broth showed distinct morphological, structural and mineralogical changes in comparison to control. The findings highlights the potential of P solubilization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa from euthophic biochar, and hence provide opportunities for nutrients recovery from wastes.

Effect of Calcination Temperature on the Adsorption Performance of Tanggamus Natural Zeolite for Ammonium Removal from Shrimp Pond Wastewater

This research explores the potential of locally sourced natural zeolite from the Tanggamus District, Indonesia, for the removal of ammonium from shrimp pond wastewater. The study utilizes a comprehensive approach involving desilication modification, batch adsorption experiments, and field-scale application. The zeolite, predominantly composed of clinoptilolite, undergoes calcination at varying temperatures, with 200°C proving to be optimal for enhancing ammonium adsorption capacity. The study also highlights the efficient use of zeolite at a lower dosage of 5 g/L, yielding high removal efficiency. The real-world effectiveness of this method was confirmed by field experiments, where the application of calcined zeolite resulted in lower ammonium concentrations in shrimp ponds. The results demonstrate that the application method, specifically direct spreading in the ponds, affects adsorption performance. These findings underscore the potential of using Tanggamus Natural Zeolite as a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for ammonium control in shrimp pond wastewater. This work paves the way for future research focusing on the long-term application effects and zeolite regeneration methods to further improve the economic and environmental efficiency of this approach.

A Comparative Assessment of Pond Water and Mahanadi River Water With the Waste-water in Nalas Flowing Through Sambalpur City in Odisha, India

The rapid pace of urbanisation and increasing population pressure has brought in a host of environmental problems in Sambalpur city. The waste-water flowing in the nalas in the city are drained into Mahanadi River. A study was carried out during Monsoon and Winter seasons during which water from the sewage nala Branch-1(B1), Branch-2(B2), Branch-3 (B3), two ponds (P1 and P2) and one site on Mahanadi River (M1) were collected. The samples were analyzed for pH, EC, Turbidity, Total Solid (TS), Total Hardness (TH), Total Alkalinity (TA), Sulphate, Chloride, free CO2 , Sodium, Potassium, Nitrate, Phosphate, COD, DO and BOD. The critical observations with respect to some important parameters are discussed. The SO4 concentration in water during Monsoon was high (90.24 -178.56 mg/L) compared to that of winter (34.56- 119.04 mg/L) for all the stations. The Pond water sulphate (145.92-178.56 mg/L) concentration was comparable to that of Waste-water (90.24-157.44 mg/L) and of Mahanadi River water (113.36 mg/L) during Monsoon. The Cl values of pond water are comparable with that of the downstream portion of the nala (97.98-83.78 mg/L). The water of the pond P-1 showed high Na values (78.79-80 mg/L) in both the seasons while that of pond P2 (27.32-31.25 mg/L) is comparable with the downstream stretch B3 of the nala (20.64- 31.06 mg/L). The Na concentration in Mahanadi River water was low(4.41-8.41 mg/L). K values in all the stations varied between (0.04 - 35.88 mg/L) except the high value (132-367.3 mg/L) reported for B2-1 site. The NO3 of pond water (60- 215 mg/L) are comparable with that of the sewage nala (40-370 mg/L). The NO3 of Mahanadi River water is low compared to that of sewage nala water. The PO4 concentration in sewage nala water (2.5-55 mg/L) is comparable to that of pond water (13-47 mg/L) and Mahanadi River water (39-48 mg/L). The winter COD values of pond water (180-260 mg/L) and river water (180-184 mg/ L) are comparable with that of sewage nala water (144-540 mg/L). The DO concentration of water is low (0.72-4.96 mg/L) in wastewater nalas and ponds and BOD is high (8-257 mg/L). The above observations suggest that the quality of ground water of the region is affected because the reservoir is recharged by the polluted sewage nala water. Decrease in the values of different parameters in the Mahanadi River water compared to that in the sewage nala water could be attributed to dilution effects. The study points at a serious ecological concern for the aquatic ecosystem of the region and demands for appropriate management plan for waste-water generated from the city.

A Physical Method for Optical Characterization of Pollution in Industrial Wastewater Ponds Using Imaging Spectroscopy

A Physical Method for Optical Characterization of Pollution in Industrial Wastewater Ponds Using Imaging Spectroscopy

Synthesis and development of Fe&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;/SiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;/CaCO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; nanocomposite adsorbents for ammonia adsorption in the shrimp pond waste

&lt;p&gt;We developed a Fe&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;/SiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;/CaCO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; magnetic nanocomposite adsorbent, with SiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; synthesized from sea sand and CaCO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; derived from coral skeletons. The Fe&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;/SiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;/CaCO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; nanocomposite was characterized and employed as an adsorbent to reduce ammonia levels in shrimp pond wastewater where ammonia concentrations ranged from 11.9 to 38.8 mg/L. We further explored the effects of various parameters on the removal efficiency, adsorption capacity, thermodynamics, isoterm, and kinetics of the adsorption process. Specifically, we examined the influence of pH (3–8), adsorbent mass (0.025–0.25 g), temperature (27–60 ℃), and contact time (10–120 min). Ammonia concentrations in the filtrate were measured using the Nessler method. The synthesis of CaCO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; from coral skeleton, SiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; from sand, and Fe&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;/SiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;/CaCO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; adsorbent was successfully achieved, as confirmed by XRF, FTIR, and XRD characterizations. The adsorption process adhered to the second-order kinetics model, exhibited spontaneous behavior with a negative ΔG value, and followed the Langmuir isotherm model (R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.9267). The results indicated an optimal adsorbent mass of 0.025 g, achieving 89.3% adsorption at 60 minutes of contact time, a temperature of 27 ℃, and an optimal pH of 5. When applied to shrimp pond wastewater, the Fe&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;/SiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;/CaCO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; adsorbent demonstrated an adsorption efficiency ranging from 52.1% to 86.8% and an adsorption capacity between 6.2 and 30.9 mg/g.&lt;/p&gt;

Use seaweeds on nutrient reduction in super-intensive vaname pond wastewater

Use seaweeds on nutrient reduction in super-intensive vaname pond wastewater

Health Risks Associated with the Concentration of Heavy Metals in Sediment, Water, and Carp Reared in Treated Wastewater from a Slaughterhouse

The use of purified slaughterhouse wastewater in carp ponds, and the use of wastewater from the pond for the irrigation of agricultural fields, was the basis for the construction of an integrated system of agricultural production as a sustainable solution for the food and fish production industries. The negative side of such integrated production systems is the concern related to the safety of fish meat produced in such a system. The aim of this research was to determine the concentration of heavy metals and metalloids in the wastewater from the slaughterhouse, in the pond water and sediment, in the carp tissue and in the water leaving the pond, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the integrated system and the safety of the produced fish. Sampling was carried out in spring and autumn. The mean concentrations in all water samples (µg/L) were: As (12–125), Cd (0.12–4.2), Hg (1.14–14.21), Pb (&lt;0.1–17.2), Cu (&lt;0.1–44.6), Fe (17.02–425.2) and Zn (2.91–186.2), with the highest numbers in the wastewater, where it was above the prescribed limit values for the wastewater discharged from the slaughterhouses into natural recipients in both samplings. The efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant for heavy metals and metalloids was very high, in the range of 87% to 98%. The water from the pond corresponded to class 3 in terms of the concentration of heavy metals and metalloids both in spring and autumn, and can be used freely for breeding cyprinid fish species. The water from the irrigation canal corresponded to class 2/3 and can be used for irrigation. The mean concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids in the sediments (mg/kg) were: As (3.00–4.88), Cd (0.16–0.96), Hg (0.21–1.47), Pb (0.77–2.29), Cu (49.60–60.90), Fe (3.94–5.32) and Zn (92.8–115.20). The content of heavy metals in different organs of carp differed significantly depending on the season. The trend of heavy metal accumulation in common carp muscles in spring was: Zn &gt; Fe &gt; Cu &gt; Pb &gt; Hg &gt; Cd &gt; As, and in autumn: Zn &gt; Fe &gt; Cu &gt; Pb &gt; As &gt; Cd &gt; Hg. Metal concentrations in the examined fish samples were far below the WHO guidelines. It can be concluded that carp produced in a pond supplied with purified wastewater from the slaughterhouse industry, in terms of the concentration of residues of the tested heavy metals and metalloids, is safe for human consumption.

Ecological performance of an integrated ex-situ rice-fish co-culture system

Rice-fish co-culture system (RFCS) is an eco-friendly agricultural mode, but traditional RFCS has revealed many deficiencies. In this study, we constructed a new system of ex-situ rice-fish co-culture (ESRF) and evaluated its performance in ecological advantages. Chemical environmental factors, plankton and microorganisms, as well as ecology and economic benefits, were analyzed in the ESRF system. Results showed that 23.6% fertilizer and 47.5% water were saved in ESRF compared with rice monoculture. After wastewater in the fish ponds flowed through the paddy fields, the concentrations of TN, TP, CODMn, NH4+-N, NO2−-N and DIP decreased 72.78%, 63.81%, 53.32%, 45.54%, 51.31% and 44.05%, respectively through the absorption by rice. The phytoplankton abundance of cyanobacteria in wastewater, mainly Microcystis and Merismopedia tenuissima decreased significantly in ESRF system in July. Rotifer was the most dominant zooplankton in all samples and its abundance decreased significantly in ESRF system. After the aquaculture wastewater flowed through the paddy fields, the relative abundance of several bacteria with the ability of transforming nitrogen and phosphorus increased, such as Vogesella, Comamonadaceae, Flavobacterium, Sphingobium, Brevundimonas and Sphingomonas. These results suggest that ESRF is an eco-friendly and economical agricultural production mode and worthy of application in agriculture production.

An automatic waste cleaning system in shrimp ponds with digital image processing using the internet of things

Super intensive shrimp pond wastewater with a stocking density of 750-1,250 individuals/m2 contains an average total suspended solids (TSS) of 798-924 mg/L, dissolved organic matter (BOT) of 81,227-88,641 mg/L; total nitrogen (TN) 9.8389-14.4260 mg/L; and total phosphate (TP) 7.8770-11.8720 mg/L. This value has exceeded the threshold limit of the permissible pond wastewater standard so it has the potential to hurt the environmental quality of water bodies receiving the waste load. making a more intensive vannamei shrimp farming pond cleaning system using turbidity sensors to read turbidity in shrimp farming ponds and ultrasonic sensors as readers of the water level in shrimp farming ponds and using a camera to detect the presence of foam waste in shrimp farming ponds and the Raspberry Pi microcontroller as a center system control on control devices and monitoring of all sensors then the output data will activate the drainage of leftover shrimp feed and shrimp waste from drainage to disposal using PVC pipes and automatic faucets that are driven using DC power window motors. The Internet of Things (IoT) automatic system in the construction of a waste cleaning device for shrimp ponds was built using a turbidity sensor that can detect the level of turbidity in water with an accuracy of 0.51%. The need for additional water in the pond is assisted by an ultrasonic sensor which provides information to the water pump with an average accuracy of 0.56%. To detect foam waste using a webcam camera as a foam detector.

Level of effectiveness of pond wastewater treatment installations with remediation bacteria in Cipatujah

The coastal area in the Cipatujah District has the potential for intensive pond development. However, the development of intensive ponds in the Cipatujah District still needs to be higher. One of the reasons is farmers’ lack of knowledge regarding the system and benefits of intensive ponds, so many ponds still use simple wastewater treatment plants. The impact is a decrease in the quality of the environment around the pond. This study aimed to analyze the effect of bacteria providing remediation on pond effluent on the quality of wastewater and the effectiveness of pond wastewater treatment plants. This research was conducted in three ponds at Cipatujah District, Tasikmalaya Regency, from October 2022 to January 2023. Wastewater samples were taken after harvesting, while siphon water samples were taken every two days since DOC 30. Water samples were analyzed at the Testing Services Laboratory and Certification of IPB, Bogor. Research results show that TSS, BOD, and NH3 content in pond waste decreased by 40 to 70% when the wastewater was treated with remediation bacteria in the form of Aquapro IPB-Microbac+ and when it was retained for five days. The reduction in the organic matter content of pond effluents has increased the quality of the environment around the ponds by 70 to 80%. The conclusion shows that the pond wastewater treatment plant is effective in treating wastewater as the organic waste content of the ponds discharged into the coastal environment decreases.

The treatment of wastewater from pangasius catfish ponds using peat-derived adsorbent materials

Peat (Mekong River Delta, Vietnam) was naturally dried, and then mixed with coal slag in the ratio of 70:30 by weight to use as adsorbent to treat wastewater from Pangasius catfish ponds in batches. The adsorbent was used in a specific designed system to treat Pangasius pond wastewater in a continuous flow model at a speed of 0.3 m3.h−1. The treatment system has operated for 9 consecutive hours in each experiment batch. The results show that the system can treat a large amount of wastewater (64.8 m3) with the efficiency (%) of BOD5 of 95.78%, COD of 95.3%, total phosphorous of 73% and total nitrogen of 89.79%. After treatment, the quality of wastewater has met the standards to be discharged into the environment.

Growth Performance and Biochemical Composition of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Reared in Membrane Bioreactor Treated Wastewater

The aquaculture sector in Africa has great potential for growth; however, it faces several challenges, one of them being the scarcity of clean water. This prompts the need for water recycling. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of rearing Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) using municipal wastewater treated with membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology. A total of 270 Nile tilapia fingerlings (0.15&amp;plusmn;0.05 g) were reared in three treatment groups in triplicate. There were 2 treatments, including; MBR treated wastewater and stabilization pond treated wastewater (maturation pond), while the municipal tap water was used as the control. The growth performance (weight and length) of the fish was monitored over a 24-week period. After the experimental period, the biochemical composition of the fish muscle was analysed using standard AOAC methods. The results showed that the highest weight gain, length gain, survival rate, and specific growth were obtained in the fish in the control followed by the MBR treatment. Additionally, the crude protein, as well as the crude fiber and dry matter, were significantly higher in the fish in the maturation ponds at 23.10%, 0.29%, and 25.35%, respectively, while the crude ash was highest in the MBR at 1.22%. Results also showed that the MBR and maturation pond treatments meet the permissible levels for BOD, COD, NH4, and NO3 for water to be used in aquaculture. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the fish was mainly from the feed, with copper being the highest contaminant at 1.75 mg/100 g. In conclusion, both the MBR and maturation pond treated wastewater are viable for use in the rearing of Nile tilapia without adverse effect on the growth. However, MBR treatment showed better growth performance, suggesting that it could be used to increase productivity in fish farming.