中国西北地区次生盐碱水无机氮转化与环境因子的相关关系

中国西北地区次生盐碱水中NO₂^--N长期处于较高浓度，严重制约了盐碱水养殖产业的可持续发展。根据对甘肃省景泰县草窝滩渔农综合示范区（104°7''40″E，37°19''6″N）的定期定点监测，运用配对样本t检验、Duncan''s多重比较和Pearson相关性分析，研究了不同类型次生盐碱水体无机氮转化及其与环境因子的相关关系。结果表明：（1）次生盐碱水无机三态氮（NO₂^--N、NH₄⁺-N、NO₃^--N）及总氮（TN）本底值高，全年均值分别是NO₂^--N（0.3±0.2）mg/L、NH₄⁺-N（1.93±1.25）mg/L、NO₃^--N（2.92±1.5）mg/L、TN（13.91±5.85）mg/L；无机氮占TN比例不超过50%，说明有机氮在次生盐碱水体中所占比例更高；（2）环境因子pH与NO₂^--N正相关，与NO₃^--N负相关，盐度与NO₃^--N负相关，pH和盐度加剧了次生盐碱水NO₂^--N的积累；（3）水产养殖显著降低次生盐碱水体中NO₃^--N浓度和碳酸盐碱度，显示了盐碱水养殖对次生盐碱水的生态改良功能。本研究旨在为中国次生盐碱水的渔业开发利用提供科学依据。     

生物强化反应器净化循环养殖废水的研究

利用生物膜的高效截留原理,设计了生物强化反应器,在装有弹性纤维载体的反应器内接种具有硝化反硝化作用的复合菌群,经6周左右的人工挂膜后,弹性纤维载体表面出现了肉眼可见的生物膜。试验以循环养殖废水为研究对象,探讨了不同水力停留时间(HRT)和温度(WT)对生物强化反应器净化水质效果的影响。结果显示,HRT和WT对生物强化反应器净化养殖废水效果的影响显著(P<0.05)。对HRT和WT各处理水平下的COD_Mn、TN和NH ₄-N去除率进行差异显著性分析,并综合考虑反应器的运行时间、费用和操作等因素,选取HRT=18 h、WT=30 ℃作为反应器的最佳运行条件,在此条件下反应器稳定运行3周左右。试验期间,COD_Mn、TN及NH ₄-N的平均去除率分别达44.18%、51.31%及82.08%。此外,还对反应器内载体表面的生物膜进行了可培养微生物数量动态监测。强化反应器在正式运行的25 d内,其生物膜上的可培养微生物数量不断增多,氨氧化细菌数量由35.91?10⁴ CFU/mg增长到89.43?10⁴ CFU/mg,硝化细菌数量由25.75?10⁴ CFU/mg增长到61.65?10⁴ CFU/mg,反硝化细菌数量由14.23?10⁴ CFU/mg增长到100.95?10⁴ CFU/mg；氨氧化细菌和硝化细菌在与氮素循环相关的可培养细菌中占据着主导地位(59.95%～81.25%)。脱氮细菌不断地吸附于载体表面,并成功地定殖和繁殖使得生物膜不断成熟和稳定(TN和NH ⁴-N去除率分别达51.31%及82.08%)。结果表明,生物强化反应器对循环养殖废水中COD_Mn、TN和NH ₄-N的去除效果明显。     

复合垂直流人工湿地植物与基质层微生物群落特征比较分析

为了解复合垂直流人工湿地系统对海水养殖尾水中各形态氮的处理效果, 以及植物与不同基质层微生物群落特征的相似性和差异性, 以互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)-细砂-煤渣-碎石构建的复合垂直流人工湿地系统为研究对象, 研究了该系统对海水石斑鱼养殖尾水中 COD、NO₃ ^– -N、NO₂ ^– -N、NH₄ ⁺ -N 和总氮(TN)的去除效果, 并采用高通量测序技术分析了植物根际和不同基质层微生物群落特征。结果表明, 复合垂直流人工湿地系统对污染物有较好的去除效果, 出水中 COD、NO₃ ^– -N、NO₂ ^– -N、NH₄ ⁺ -N 和 TN 的平均浓度分别为 4.00 mg/L, 0.15 mg/L, 0.16 mg/L, 0.04 mg/L, 0.64 mg/L。植物根际样品和细砂层样品的微生物群落丰富度和多样性较高, 与其他基质层样品具有明显差异; 在门分类水平上优势菌以变形菌门、拟杆菌门、放线菌门、绿弯菌门和厚壁菌门为主, 相对丰度分别为 53.7%、11.5%、11.9%、6.4%、3.7%; 在纲分类水平优势菌以 α-变形菌纲、γ-变形菌纲、放线菌纲和拟杆菌纲为主, 相对丰度分别为 30.1%、20.9%、11.9%、10.3%; 人工湿地中丰度最高的脱氮功能菌包括亚硝化单胞菌属、硝化螺菌属、 芽孢杆菌属、假单胞菌属和不动杆菌属; 系统中微生物代谢功能丰富, 且所有样品功能组成相似; 相同基质层样品的微生物群落组成差异较小, 二级湿地单元各基质层样品微生物群落的差异程度与一级湿地单元相比较小。     

环境因子对鼠尾藻幼苗叶绿素荧光参数的影响

为了揭示鼠尾藻幼苗的生态适应性,研究了温度(5~34 ℃)、盐度(10~50)和营养盐等环境因子对鼠尾藻幼苗叶绿素荧光参数的影响。结果表明,(1) 氮浓度高于8 mg/L或磷浓度高于1.2 mg/L,或温度高于28 ℃,对鼠尾藻幼苗的光合作用均有显著影响(P<0.05);(2) 短时间的5~15 ℃的低温胁迫或10~50盐度胁迫6 h对鼠尾藻幼苗的F_v/F_m值影响不明显;(3) 氮、磷浓度分别为2~4 mg/L和0.2~0.8 mg/L,且NH⁺₄-N∶NO^-₃-N的比值为1~3时,较利于鼠尾藻幼苗光合作用的进行。     

草鱼单养和混养池塘的水质与生物组成特征

为比较单养、混养草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idella)养殖池塘的水质与生物组成特点，采取水质分析、环境DNA与传统鉴别方法对草鱼单养、混养(80:20)两类池塘的水质变化、浮游生物、底栖生物、菌群结构进行了分析。结果表明，混养池塘的水质优于单养池塘，混养池塘水体中总氮(TN)、硝态氮(NO_3^--N)、氨氮(NH_4⁺-N)、亚硝态氮(NO_2^--N)的浓度比单养池塘分别低10.15%、3.78%、5.07%、80.18%，总磷(TP)和活性磷(SRP)的浓度分别低27.14%和56.26%；两类池塘中浮游植物均以绿藻门(Chlorophyta)、蓝藻门(Cyanophyta)、隐藻门(Cryptophyta)为优势种，但单养池塘中的藻类密度为30×10^₆cells/L，低于混养池塘104×10^₆cells/L；两类池塘中的浮游动物均以轮虫和原生动物为优势种，枝角类和桡足类生物数量较少，单养池塘中浮游动物密度高于混养池塘；在底栖动物方面，单养池塘存在螺类、水蚯蚓和摇蚊幼虫，而混养池塘仅有螺类和摇蚊幼虫。在菌群组成方面，单养池塘水体中以厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)为优势类群，混养池塘水体中以变形菌门(Proteobacteria)为优势类群；但在两类池塘底泥中，均以变形菌门为优势类群。以上结果表明，草鱼混养有利于改善养殖池塘水质，增加浮游植物丰富度，改变养殖水体菌群的结构。本研究为优化草鱼池塘养殖结构，改善水质，构建高效池塘养殖模式提供了依据。     

菲律宾蛤仔对养殖池塘沉积物/水界面反硝化和厌氧氨氧化反应速率的影响

养殖尾水氮含量过高等富营养化问题是影响当前我国池塘养殖产业健康可持续发展的重要因素，反硝化和厌氧氨氧化是自然水生态系统中重要的氮循环过程，是沉积物氮素营养迁出的主要途径，埋栖型贝类通过滤水和蠕动等生命活动不仅能净化水质，还可以使沉积物颗粒混合并改变沉积物/水界面的物质交换。本研究于2020年9、10、11、12月采集菲律宾蛤仔(Ruditapes philippinarum)养殖池塘贝类区域(有贝区)和对照区域(无贝区)的沉积物表层样品，进行泥浆培养实验，利用氮稳定同位素示踪技术检测其反硝化和厌氧氨氧化反应速率，并分析了其与间隙水理化参数的相关性。结果显示，菲律宾蛤仔养殖池塘有贝区10月和11月样品检测到厌氧氨氧化反应，并有反硝化—厌氧氨氧化耦合反应；有贝区9—12月沉积物反硝化反应速率均高于无贝区，有贝区9月的反硝化反应速率最高(0.005 8 μmol/kg·h)；水体温度与沉积物反硝化反应速率呈极显著正相关(P<0.01)，氨氮(NH4+-N)浓度与厌氧氨氧化反应速率呈极显著正相关(P<0.01)。研究表明，海水池塘养殖生态系统中也存在厌氧氨氧化过程，养殖菲律宾蛤仔等埋栖型贝类有利于池塘沉积物/水界面的反硝化和厌氧氨氧化反应，有效地促进池塘沉积物脱氮过程，研究结果不仅丰富了海水养殖生态系统氮循环理论，也为开展尾水生物净化工作提供了新思路。     

氨、亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐对凡纳滨对虾幼虾的毒性作用

研究了 NH₃-N、NO₂ ^- -N与 NO₃ ^- -N对凡纳滨对虾幼虾的毒性作用。获得了 NH₃-N_t(NH₃-N_m) 与 NO₂ ^- -N对体长2．4cm幼虾的 24h、48h、72h、96h之 LC₅₀值，两者对幼虾的安全质量分数分别为1．30 (0．101)mg/L和3．80mg/L。当 NH₃-N_t(NH₃-N_m)质量分数在1．3(0．101)~4．3(0．333)mg/L时，存活率为71．4% ~92．9%，体长增长率为36．3% ~57．1%，体重增长率为188．5% ~322．3%。当 NO₂ ^- -N质量分数在3．00~21．00mg/L时，成活率为75．0% ~91．7%，体长增长率为21．2% ~59．2%，体重增长率为72．0% ~311．9%。NO₃ ^- -N对体长7．37cm幼虾的亚急性毒性效应：NO₃ ^- -N的质量分数在 30~195mg/L时，成活率为 35% ~100%，体长增长率为8．5% ~20．5%，体重增长率为29．6% ~56．8% 。三态氮在一定质量分数范围内均对幼虾的存活率和生长率产生影响。     

高效脱氮菌强化挂膜生物滤器对海水养殖尾水净化效果研究

为了提高海水养殖尾水的净化效率, 研究了利用高效脱氮菌强化挂膜后的生物滤器对静止和流动养殖尾水的净化效果。首先利用自主筛选的 3 株适应海水环境、可有效去除氨氮、亚硝酸氮及有机物的高效脱氮菌[花津滩芽孢杆菌(Bacillus hwajinpoensis)SLWX₂、嗜碱盐单胞菌(Halomonas alkaliphila)X₃ 和麦氏交替单胞菌(Alteromonas macleodii)SLNX₂]的不同组合强化挂膜, 根据成熟后的生物滤器对定量静止养殖尾水中 NH₄⁺ -N、NO₂^– -N、NO₃^– -N、 总氮(TN)及化学需氧量(CODMn)的去除效果, 选出对各无机氮去除效果最佳的菌种组合作为强化菌种再次挂膜, 分析不同浓度强化菌种挂膜对流动养殖尾水中 NH₄⁺ -N、NO₂^– -N 和 NO₃^– -N 的持续净化效果,以上实验均以自然挂膜组为对照。静止尾水处理实验结果表明, 各实验组中 NO₃^– -N 浓度先上升后下降, 对养殖尾水各项无机氮及有机物指标的去除效果均优于对照组。其中, SLWX₂+X₃+SLNX₂ 组合高浓度组对养殖尾水中的各项指标去除效果最佳, 在第 48 小时对 NH₄⁺ -N、NO₂^– -N、CODMn 和 TN 的去除率分别达到 100%、100%、80.7%和 59.5%。而自然挂膜对照组的去除率分别为 95.5%、50.52%、38.1%、13.44%, 且 NO3– -N 浓度持续上升。说明脱氮菌强化挂膜可明显提高生物滤器对养殖尾水的净化效率, 有效降低养殖尾水中氮素和有机物的浓度。后期连续流动尾水净化实验结果表明, 实验组和对照组生物滤器出水的 NH₄⁺ -N、NO₂^– -N、NO₃^– -N 浓度均低于进水的, 强化挂膜组的又均低于自然挂膜组的, 其中 106 CFU/mL 实验组对无机氮的去除效果均最佳, NH₄⁺ -N NO₂^– -N NO₃^– -N 的最大去除率分别为 31.6%、11.33%、 15.6%; 105 CFU/mL 实验组次之, 且出水氮素浓度可长期维持在较低水平。说明脱氮菌强化挂膜对各项无机氮的去除效果持续优于自然挂膜。本实验的结果为脱氮菌在海水养殖尾水净化中的应用提供了理论基础和技术支撑。     

凡纳滨对虾养殖塘叶绿素a与水质因子的多元回归分析

2009年4-9月期间,对上海市奉贤区某凡纳滨对虾养殖场22个养殖池塘水体叶绿素a、水温、pH、溶解氧、透明度、悬浮物(SS)、总有机碳(TOC)、五日生化需氧量(BOD₅)、高锰酸盐指数(COD_Mn)等15项水质因子进行测定。取164组测定数据,进行描述性统计,分析叶绿素a与各项因子的相关性系数。分析结果显示,与叶绿素a呈极显著线性正相关的水质因子为SS、TOC、BOD₅、COD_Mn、TN、TP;呈显著正相关的为DO;而叶绿素a与透明度呈极显著线性负相关,与PO^3-₄-P呈显著线性负相关;与水温、pH、NO^-₂-N、 NO^-₃-N、NH₃-N则未呈现显著相关性。根据多元线性回归选择自变量的原则,选择了TOC、TN、PO^3-₄-P和TP₄项水质因子,建立了叶绿素a与4项水质因子的逐步回归模型:Chl.a =-0.054 5+0.0034 9 TOC+0.015 3 TN-0.418 PO^3-₄-P+0.276 TP(r=0.715 5)。利用偏回归系数检验各水质因子对叶绿素a的影响,结果表明,对叶绿素a影响从大到小依次是TP、TOC、PO^3-₄-P和TN。研究结果对进一步探讨养殖池塘生态系统的变化规律及水环境质量保护提供了依据。     

循环水养殖用水中反硝化碳源研究现状

通过硝化作用和反硝化作用可以有效控制循环水养殖系统水中的氧氮、亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐.进行水产养殖用水硝化作用的生物过滤器的研究已经系统而深入,而关于养殖用水反硝化作用的脱氮反应器的研究则并未引起相应的关注.水产养殖用水进行异养反硝化必需添加碳源.在已有的研究中,经常使用的甲醇等有机液体碳源存在添加量不易控制、出水有残留等弊端;可生物降解聚合物被证明是比较理想的水产养殖用水异养反硝化碳源的选择之一;近年来对以养殖活动中产生的残饵和粪便作为异养反硝化内供碳源的研究也引起了广泛的关注.总结了近年来循环水养殖系统异养反硝化不同种类碳源的效率、在实际生产中的可操作性的相关研究进展.     

主养草鱼与主养黄颡鱼池塘沉积物—水界面氮磷营养盐通量变化及与环境因子的关系

为了探讨不同主养模式池塘养殖期间沉积物—水界面氮磷营养盐通量变化特征以及与环境因子之间的相互关系,利用沉积物—水界面营养盐扩散通量的原位观测装置,分析了2013年4—10月主养草鱼和主养黄颡鱼池塘沉积物—水界面营养盐交换通量,并探讨了影响营养盐交换通量的因素。结果发现:(1)在养殖初期,各种形态氮磷在养殖池塘沉积物—水界面主要表现为从上覆水向沉积物的沉积,养殖中后期,由于温度升高以及池塘沉积物中营养物质的大量累积,各种形态氮磷表现为以沉积物向上覆水扩散为主,表明池塘沉积物是氮磷营养盐的源与汇;(2)两种不同主养模式池塘氮磷通量的统计结果表明,沉积物—水界面-N、-N和-P通量变化无显著差异,而-N、TN和TP通量有显著差异;(3)上覆水中DO含量的升高显著促进界面间-N和-N释放通量,而-N和-P释放通量与上覆水DO浓度成显著负相关;温度的升高对各种无机形态的氮磷通量有显著的促进作用。     

Effects of C/N ratio on nitrogen removal with denitrification phase after a nitrification-based biofloc aquaculture cycle

In the current study, we set up a denitrification process to remove the nitrogen pollutants, especially nitrate (NO₃^–-N), from the wastewater after a nitrification-based biofloc technology (BFT) aquaculture cycle. Five different treatments (CN0, CN1, CN2, CN4 and CN6, respectively) were used, which involved addition of extra carbohydrate with variable ratios of elementary organic carbon to NO₃^–-N by weight (C/NO₃^–-N ratio equal to 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6, respectively). With CN2, CN4, and CN6 treatments, NO₃^–-N was decreased (with increasing alkalinity) to ≤ 6.42 ± 0.30 mg·L⁻¹ and low amounts (close to zero) of nitrite (NO₂^–-N) were achieved. However, there were high concentrations of residual NO₃^–-N and/or NO₂^–-N in CN0 and CN1. CN2 achieved the best denitrification, wherein 81.00 ± 0.95% of the initial input nitrogen was removed. By fitting the equations, the highest nitrogen recycling rate (23.08 mg-N·g-C⁻¹) was achieved with a C/NO₃^–-N ratio of 4.16. Denitrifying bacteria were the dominant bacteria in all extra carbohydrate added treatment groups. Although denitrifying polyphosphate accumulating organisms contributed to the removal of phosphorus, high concentrations of residual soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) were observed in all treatment groups. Overall, extra addition of carbohydrate with C/NO₃^–-N ratio ≥ 2 is advisable for nitrogen removal, while the highest nitrogen recycling rate will be achieved with a ratio of 4.16.     

夏季不同形式湿地中2类厌氧脱氮菌群的分布特征

为研究不同形式湿地中厌氧脱氮菌的分布特征和关键影响因子,选择池塘、沟渠、表流和潜流4种形式湿地,采用16S rDNA克隆文库法和典型对应分析等方法,分析了夏季4种形式湿地中厌氧氨氧化菌和反硝化型甲烷厌氧化菌的菌群结构及其与环境因子的相关性.结果显示,湿地中的AMX菌与Candidatus Brocadia fulgida相似性最高可达99％,DAMO菌与典型菌株C.Methylomirabilis oxyfera分在了不同的分支.夏季4种形式湿地中,AMX菌的Shannon多样性依次为表流湿地＞潜流湿地＞沟渠＞池塘,DAMO菌的Shannon多样性依次为池塘＞潜流湿地＞沟渠＞表流湿地.上覆水中TOC和NO3--N是影响AMX菌分布的主要因素,上覆水中TN、NH4+-N、pH和DO对DAMO菌分布影响最大.研究表明,夏季表流湿地底泥中所含AMX菌类别最多,池塘底泥所含DAMO菌种类别最多,不同形式湿地中均有AMX菌存在,但不确定是否存在DAMO反应,影响2类菌群分布的主要相关因子是C、N以及pH和DO.     

草鱼养殖水体中参与氮转化途径的异养菌分析

为分析草鱼池塘中参与氮代谢的异养细菌比例及其代谢途径,从杭州郊区取得4个草鱼池塘的水样,每个水样通过涂布随即挑选100株菌株进行定性显色试验,并据此选取11株异养菌进行16S rRNA序列分析。结果表明,4个草鱼养殖池塘中NH4+-N和NO2--N的平均水平分别为5.597 mg/L和0.135 mg/L。池塘中可培养的异养菌平均为3.26×105cfu/mL,其中的89.75%参与了氮的不同代谢途径,其中31.25%的氨化菌和33.50%NO3--N(NO2--N)还原菌参与了NH4+-N的生成,32.45%的氨氧化菌参与了NH4+-N的降低;NO2--N生成途径主要包括蛋白质直接转化(11.26%)、氨氧化(4.25%)和硝酸盐氮还原(10.75%),而NO2--N降低主要通过15.50%的亚硝酸氧化菌、8.75%的NO2--N还原菌和10.75%的反硝化菌实现。结果提示,草鱼养殖水体中存在大量的异养硝化菌参与不同的氮代谢途径,且产生氨氮的异养菌比例远高于去除氨氮的菌,这是草鱼养殖水体中氨氮含量易偏高的原因。同时,11株不同功能的异养菌16SrRNA鉴定结果为寡养食单胞菌(Stenotrophomonas)6株、假单胞菌(Pseudomonas)3株、克雷伯氏菌(Klebsiella)和肠杆菌(Enterobacter)各1株,而且细菌对氮源的利用具有菌株特异性。     

Denitrifying granules in a marine Upflow Anoxic Sludge Bed (UASB) reactor

Marine land-based Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) are generally perceived as environmentally friendly aquatic production systems. To promote their sustainability even further and reduce the discharge of nutrients, there is a need for cost-effective end-of-pipe treatment technologies for removing nutrients. This includes nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) for which well-proven technologies for freshwater systems exists, while similar technologies for saltwater systems are less advanced. Granular technology has been developed since the 1970s in wastewater treatment under the upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) concept. This concept is based on the enrichment of different bacterial aggregations into a compact granule, optimizing synergistic and syntrophic bacterial processes by reducing the diffusion distance of substrates between the different bacterial consortia forming the granule. The following study examined the: 1) granular formation; and 2) nitrate removal capacity of a marine Upflow Anoxic Sludge Bed (UASB) reactor operating at different up-flow velocities (0.40–2.11 m/h). The results showed that marine denitrifying granules developed within 27 days using preconditioned rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) organic matter waste, and that the highest specific denitrification rate (321.9 ± 13.1 mg NO₃⁻-N/g Total Volatile Suspended Solids (TVSS)/d) was found at an upflow velocity of 0.97 m/h. The marine UASB denitrifying granule reactor had a total capacity of removing 14.9 kg NO₃⁻-N/m³ reactor volume per day at a hydraulic retention time of 1.9 h, making it a strong candidate for end-of-pipe denitrification of marine RAS effluent as well as for in-line treatment in marine systems.     

Discharge management in fresh and brackish water RAS: Combined phosphorus removal by organic flocculants and nitrogen removal in woodchip reactors

The current study combined P and N removal using organic flocculant chemicals and woodchip bioreactors in both freshwater and brackish water (7 ppm) recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). The use of carbon (C) containing flocculant chemicals in the process was hypothesized to further stimulate C-demanding N removal (denitrification) in bioreactors. The trial of combined P and N removal consisted of four treatments: freshwater and brackish water RAS with and without the addition of supernatant from flocculation process to the woodchip reactor. Duplicate woodchip reactors were used per treatment and the trial was run for six weeks. 56% and 49% of P was removed from fresh and brackish sludge water, respectively. The nitrate-N (NO₃-N) removal rate was improved in the treatment when supernatant from flocculation process was used together with RAS discharge water when compared against the control. In brackish water RAS, the improvement was more pronounced (from 6.6–16.5 g NO₃-N m⁻³ d^-1) than in freshwater RAS (from 5.1–6.5 NO₃-N m⁻³ d^-1). In the freshwater bioreactors using supernatant, N was largely discharged as a nitrite-N (NO₂-N). High NO₂-N concentrations in freshwater reactors allude to incomplete denitrification reactions taking place. The results suggest that the organic flocculants did provide an additional C source for denitrification, which improved the N-removal process. However, in freshwater RAS this might have been partly due to untargeted processes such as DNRA (dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium), and/or insufficient denitrification reactions taking place (excessive NO₂-N production).     

Activated sludge denitrification in marine recirculating aquaculture system effluent using external and internal carbon sources

Stringent environmental legislation in Europe, especially in the Baltic Sea area, limits the discharge of nutrients to natural water bodies, limiting the aquaculture production in the region. Therefore, cost-efficient end-of-pipe treatment technologies to reduce nitrogen (N) discharge are required for the sustainable growth of marine land-based RAS. The following study examined the potential of fed batch reactors (FBR) in treating saline RAS effluents, aiming to define optimal operational conditions and evaluate the activated sludge denitrification capacity using external (acetate, propionate and ethanol) and internal carbon sources (RAS fish organic waste (FOW) and RAS fermented fish organic waste (FFOW)). The results show that between the evaluated operation cycle times (2, 4, and 6 h), the highest nitrate/nitrite removal rate was achieved at an operation cycle time of 2 h (corresponding to a hydraulic retention time of 2.5 h) when acetate was used as a carbon source. The specific denitrification rates were 98.7 ± 3.4 mg NO₃⁻-N/(h g biomass) and 93.2 ± 13.6 mg NO_x⁻-N/(h g biomass), with a resulting volumetric denitrification capacity of 1.20 kg NO₃⁻-N/(m³ reactor d). The usage of external and internal carbon sources at an operation cycle time of 4 h demonstrated that acetate had the highest nitrate removal rate (57.6 ± 6.6 mg N/(h g biomass)), followed by propionate (37.5 ± 6.3 mg NO₃⁻-N/(h g biomass)), ethanol (25.5 ± 6.0 mg NO₃⁻-N/(h g biomass)) and internal carbon sources (7.7 ± 1.6–14.1 ± 2.2 mg NO₃⁻-N/(h g biomass)). No TAN (Total Ammonia Nitrogen) or PO₄^3- accumulation was observed in the effluent when using the external carbon sources, while 0.9 ± 0.5 mg TAN/L and 3.9 ± 1.5 mg PO₄^3--P/L was found in the effluent when using the FOW, and 8.1±0.7 mg TAN/L and 7.3 ± 0.9 mg PO₄^3--P/L when using FFOW. Average sulfide concentrations varied between 0.002 and 0.008 mg S^2-/L when using the acetate, propionate and FOW, while using ethanol resulted in the accumulation of sulfide (0.26 ± 0.17 mg S^2-/L). Altogether, it was demonstrated that FBR has a great potential for end-of-pipe denitrification in marine land-based RAS, with a reliable operation and a reduced reactor volume as compared to the other available technologies. Using acetate, the required reactor volume is less than half of what is needed for other evaluated carbon sources, due to the higher denitrification rate achieved. Additionally, combined use of both internal and external carbon sources would further reduce the operational carbon cost.     

Effect of different C/N ratios and hydraulic retention times on denitrification in saline,recirculating aquaculture system effluents

Data on operation and performance of cost-effective solutions for end-of-pipe removal of nitrate from land-based saltwater recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are scarce but increasingly requested by the aquaculture industry. This study investigated the performance of a (semi)commercial-scale fixed-bed denitrification unit using single sludge for treating effluent from a commercial, saltwater RAS used for production of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). A fixed-bed denitrification reactor was fed continuously with 3-days hydrolyzed sludge from the commercial RAS, and was operated at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs; 1.82, 3.64, 5.46, or 7.28 h) or influent C/N ratios (3, 5, 7, or 10). Twenty-four h pooled samples were collected from the inflowing RAS water and the hydrolyzed sludge as well as from the denitrification reactor outlet, and samples were analyzed for nutrients and organic matter content.Nitrate removal rates increased consistently with decreasing HRT (from 64.3 ± 5.2–162.7 ± 22.0 g NO₃-N/m³/d within the HRTs tested) at non-limiting C/N ratios, while nitrate removal efficiencies decreased (from 99.6 ± 0.3–58.2 ± 8.9 %). With increasing influent C/N ratios at constant HRT (3.64 h), nitrate removal rates increased until the removal efficiency was close to 100 % and nitrate concentration in the denitrification reactor became rate-limiting. A maximum nitrate removal rate of 162.7 ± 2.0 g NO₃-N/m³/d was achieved at a HRT of 1.82 h and an influent C/N of 6.6 ± 0.5, while the most efficient use of hydrolyzed sludge (0.19 ± 0.02 g NO₃-N removed/g sCOD supplied) was obtained with a HRT of 3.64 h and a C/N ratio of 2.9. Removal rates of organic matter significantly and consistently increased with decreasing HRT and increasing C/N ratio. In addition, reducing HRT and increasing C/N ratios significantly improved removal of total phosphorus (TP) and PO₄-P.In conclusion, optimal management of the operating parameters (HRT and C/N ratio) in a single-sludge denitrification process can significantly reduce the discharge of nitrogen, organic matter, and phosphorous from land-based saltwater RAS and thus contribute to increased sustainability.