Krom, M.D, Ben David, A, Ingall, E.D, Benning, L.G, Clerici, S, Bottrell, S, Davies, C.L, Potts, N.J, Mortimer, R.J.G and van Rijn, J (2014) 'Bacterially mediated removal of phosphorus and cycling of nitrate and sulfate in the waste stream of a “zero-discharge” recirculating mariculture system.' Water Research, 56. pp. 109-121.
Abstract
Simultaneous removal of nitrogen and phosphorus by microbial biofilters has been used in a variety of water treatment systems including treatment systems in aquaculture. In this study, phosphorus, nitrate and sulfate cycling in the anaerobic loop of a zero-discharge, recirculating mariculture system was investigated using detailed geochemical measurements in the sludge layer of the digestion basin. High concentrations of nitrate and sulfate, circulating in the overlying water (∼15 mM), were removed by microbial respiration in the sludge resulting in a sulfide accumulation of up to 3 mM. Modelling of the observed S and O isotopic ratios in the surface sludge suggested that, with time, major respiration processes shifted from heterotrophic nitrate and sulfate reduction to autotrophic nitrate reduction. The much higher inorganic P content of the sludge relative to the fish feces is attributed to conversion of organic P to authigenic apatite. This conclusion is supported by: (a) X-ray diffraction analyses, which pointed to an accumulation of a calcium phosphate mineral phase that was different from P phases found in the feces, (b) the calculation that the pore waters of the sludge were highly oversaturated with respect to hydroxyapatite (saturation index = 4.87) and (c) there was a decrease in phosphate (and in the Ca/Na molar ratio) in the pore waters simultaneous with an increase in ammonia showing there had to be an additional P removal process at the same time as the heterotrophic breakdown of organic matter.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | aquaculture, anaerobic sludge, phosphorus removal, denitrification, apatite formation, sulfur cycling |
| Divisions: | School of Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Jun 2019 18:04 |
| Last Modified: | 22 Aug 2022 12:43 |
| ISSN: | 0043-1354 |
| URI / Page ID: | https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/12352 |
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