Control of Inorganic Nitrogen and Suspended Solids Concentrations in a Land-Based Recirculating Aquaculture System

Authors

  • Kasidit Nootong Chulalongkorn University
  • Siwaruek Nurit Chulalongkorn University
  • Sorawit Powtongsook National Center for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4186/ej.2013.17.1.49

Keywords:

Nitrification, denitrification, solids, tilapia, aquaculture.

Abstract

This study intended to evaluate the performance of land-based aquaculture system integrating solids separating units, nitrifying biofilters, and tubular denitrifying reactor during the closed-water tilapia cultivation for 98 days. Operation of both solids separating units was able to maintain suspended solids (SS) concentrations in the rearing tank below 35 mg SS/L. Simultaneous operation of nitrifying biofilters, ORP-controlled denitrifying reactor, and two solids separating units was capable of maintaining total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and nitrite concentrations substantially below 1.0 mg N/L and nitrate concentrations less than 12.0 mg N/L despite nitrogen loading rate and tilapia weight density were as high as 21.6 mg N/L/day and 17.2 kg/m3, respectively. Without solids separating units, TAN and nitrite concentrations drastically increased above the acceptable limits of 1.0 mg N/L. Finally, the result of nitrogen balance analysis indicated that nitrification and denitrification were the primary treatment pathways in this recirculating system capable of removing 49.8% of total nitrogen input, whereas solids separating units removed 9.5% of total nitrogen input yet their presence was essential for sustaining the activity of nitrifying biofilters for an extended period.

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Author Biographies

Kasidit Nootong

Chemical Engineering Research Unit for Value Adding of Bioresources, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Siwaruek Nurit

Chemical Engineering Research Unit for Value Adding of Bioresources, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Sorawit Powtongsook

National Center for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathum Thani, 12210, Thailand
Center of Excellence in Marine Biotechnology, Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

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Published In
Vol 17 No 1, Sep 5, 2012
How to Cite
[1]
K. Nootong, S. Nurit, and S. Powtongsook, “Control of Inorganic Nitrogen and Suspended Solids Concentrations in a Land-Based Recirculating Aquaculture System”, Eng. J., vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 49-60, Sep. 2012.