Biology of Methanogenesis Anaerobic Bioremediation

Department of Marine Biotechnology UMBC - Institute of Marine & Environmental Technology

Development of near zero-discharge land-based recirculated mariculture systems: recycling solid waste for bioenergy

 
 

Marine fish farming is one of the world’s fastest growing industries for fish production.  In response to the significant negative impact on coastal regions by open pen systems, inland closed recirculating systems (RAS) are being developed as viable eco-responsible alternatives because of their minimal environmental impact. These systems use partially closed loop water treatment systems to conserve water and reduce the generation of waste effluents. The more advanced RAS employ biological nitrogen removal through nitrification/denitrification process and discharge of the remaining solid wastes. Strict new regulations on organic matter discharge have motivated the aquaculture industry to integrate solid organic waste treatment into its operation, primarily employing conventional flocculation/coagulation processes to reduce sludge volume prior to composting it for land dispersal, but the high salinity of sludge from marine and brackish systems is a source of pollution in landfills and waste outflows. Alternatively, conversion of sludge to biomethane can significantly reduce sludge volume and generate an energy source for the RAS. The goal of the current study is to design and test a novel integrated waste treatment system developed specifically for treatment of saline waste from brackish and marine RAS. The basic design will employ a mixture of digested sludge or (biomass) treated by denitrification to reduce the N content with the raw sludge, resulting in a higher net C:N ration prior to conversion in the biogas reactor. This process would result in more efficient biogas production with significantly reduced waste discharge. The water from the integrated unit will be returned to the system to further close the loop for near to zero discharge. The approach will be tested with two different pilot scale RAS designs: a US RAS that employs a dedicated denitrification/anamox bioreactor and an Israeli RAS that employs an integrated activated sludge type denitrification reactor. Reconfigured systems will be monitored to find the optimal ratios (digested/raw sludge) for each system. Physiochemical characteristics of sludge before and after treatment as well as product (biomethane) will be monitored in both systems to identify operational parameters for maximum biogas production with minimal waste discharge. Finally, the system effluent will be monitored for potential pathogens to determine whether additional treatment is necessary to completely close the RAS.  Development of the system will result in a closed loop system with maximum water conservation, minimal environmental impact and value-added biogas that can be used to offset operational costs of the system.
 

Demonstrations               

    Biogas production from fish waste
                               

Collaborators 

    Amit Gross, Ph.D., Ben Gurion University of the Negev

   Zeev Ronan, Ph.D., Ben Gurion University of the Negev

   Dina Zilberg, Ph., Ben Gurion University of the Negev

   Noam Mozes, Ph., Fisheries and Aquaculture Department and National Center for Mariculture
             

Project Team               

    Ms. Brigit Quinn, University of Maryland Baltimore County
                               

Related Publications and Abstracts

Tal, Y., H.J. Schreier, K.R. Sowers, J.D. Stubblefield, A.R. Place, and Y. Zohar.  2009.  Environmentally Sustainable, Fully Contained Marine Aquaculture.  Aquaculture 286: 28-35.  [ABSTRACT]. 

Mirzoyan, N., S. Parnes, A. Singer, Y. Tal, K. Sowers and A. Gross.  2008.  Quality of brackish water aquaculture sludge and its suitability for anaerobic digestion and methane production in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor.  Aquaculture  279: 35-41.  [ABSTRACT].

Tal, Y., J.E.M. Watts, S.B. Schreier, K.R. Sowers, H.J. Schreier.  2002.  Characterization of the microbial community and nitrogen transformation processes associated with moving bed bioreactors in a closed recirculated marine system.  Aquaculture 215: 187-202 [ABSTRACT].  

Tal, Y., J.E.M. Watts, S.B. Schreier, K.R. Sowers, H.J. Schreier.  2002.  Nitrification, denitrification   and anammox processes associated with the microbial community of moving bed bioreactors in a closed recirculated marine system, pp 451-460.  Proc. 4^th Int. Conf. Recirculating Aquaculture, Roanoke, VA.

Sowers, K.R. and J.G. Ferry.  2002.  Marine Methanogenesis.  In: G. Bitton (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Environmental Microbiology.  John Wiley & Sons, Inc.   

 

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