Towards a Capture and Reuse Model for Aquaculture Effluent as a Hydroponic Nutrient Solution Using Aerobic Microbial Reactors

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technologies are required to meet current and future food production demand as the global population rises, arable land decreases, minerals for fertilizer depleted. Hydroponics recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) intensive methods that can provide season-independent vegetables seafood in urban settings but limited by a reliance on fertilizing solutions made from finite mineral reserves treatment disposal costs of nutrient rich effluent, respectively. The development capture reuse system where RAS effluent is solubilized become plant-available utilized hydroponic solution would aid both industries increase security deserts. Aerobic mineralization used domestic wastewater reduce solid content solubilize particulate-bound nutrients. Preliminary studies have also shown aerobic be an effective method treatment. batch reactors were mineralize this study. Suspended solids reduction achieved was measured throughout experiment plant-availability twelve nutrients determined before after It effectively plant utilization effluent.