Ni-Fe oxide-PEDOT modified anode coupled with BAF treating ammonia and nitrite in recirculating seawater of aquaculture system

Efficient ammonia and nitrite removal in low nutrient recirculating seawater of recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) is critical for healthy cultivation. However, it is hard for conventional biological aerated filters (BAFs) to meet this demand under short hydraulic retention time (HRT). The electrooxidation-BAFs (E-BAFs) were constructed for efficient seawater treatment in a RAS of Sebastes schlegelii, with high activity anodic catalyst Ni-Fe oxide-PEDOT. Satisfactory ammonia removal (88.2% in E-BAFs, 33.7% higher than the control, stage 3) and nitrite removal (69.9 % in E-BAFs, 45.3% in the control) were achieved at HRT of 50 min. The proportion of nitrifying bacteria (Nitrospira, Nitrosomonas and Nitrosopumilus) and nitrification/denitrification genes (amoCAB, nxrAB, narGHI, et. al) were higher in E-BAFs than the control, suggesting better potential in functional bacteria enrichment. Aerobic colony number in RAS with E-BAFs was lower and specific growth rate (SGR) of Sebastes schlegelii (3.79%) was significantly higher, indicating a better culture effect.

Automated summary

The electrooxidation-BAFs were able to efficiently remove ammonia and nitrite in low nutrient seawater in a recirculating aquaculture system, resulting in higher functional bacteria enrichment and improved cultivation effects for Sebastes schlegelii.