Identification and Quantification of Suspended Solids and Their Effects
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Leibniz - Institut für Meereswissenschaften Identifi cation and quantifi cation of suspended solids and their effects in modern marine recirculation systems Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät an der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel vorgelegt von Jaime Orellana Kiel, 2006 Referent: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Harald Rosenthal Koreferent: Prof. Dr. Dietrich Schnack Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 29.01.2007 Zum Druck genehmigt: Kiel, den Der Dekan Table of contents Summary 9 Zusammenfassung 11 1 Introduction 13 1.1 General aspects towards aquaculture infrastructure 13 1.2 General background research on recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) 14 1.3 Why are particles in RAS so harmful and their removal essential? 15 1.4 Solid removal in recirculation systems 18 1.5 Particle characteristics and size distribution 20 1.6 Objectives 22 2 Materials and Methods 25 2.1 Origin and characterisation of the fish material used in this study 25 2.1.1 Chronology of the scientific experimentations and relevant events related to this study 25 2.2 The recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) 25 2.2.1 Swirl separator: first step of suspended solids separation 30 2.2.2 Foam fractionator: second step of suspended solid separation 31 2.2.2.1 Enhanced foam fractionation with ozone 35 2.2.3 Biological filtration: nitrification 37 2.2.3 Rearing tanks 40 2.3 Secondary unit 41 2.3.1 Control of pH 41 2.4 Data recording of water physics in the RAS 42 2.4.1 Temperature and salinity in the system 42 2.4.2 Dissolved oxygen concentration 42 2.4.3 Measurement of pH values 42 2.4.4 Measuring points 43 2.5 Feed composition and feeding amount 43 2.6 Determination of growth, mortality, feed conversion ratio and condition factor 44 2.6.1 Growth 44 2.6.2 Specific growth rate 45 2.6.3 Mortality 45 2.6.4 Food conversion ratio 45 2.6.5 Condition factor 46 2.6.6 Grading 46 2.6.7 Fish quality 47 2.7 Determination of dissolved nutrients 49 2.7.1 Water sampling 49 2.7.2 Calibration of the analytical methods 51 2.7.3 Determination of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations 51 2.7.3.1 Determination methods 51 2.7.3.2 Calibration of the measuring methods 53 - 2.7.4 Determination of nitrite-nitrogen (NO2 -N) concentrations 54 2.7.4.1 Determination method 54 2.7.4.2 Calibration of the measuring method 55 - 2.7.5 Determination of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3 -N) concentrations 56 2.7.5.1 Determination method 56 2.7.5.2 Calibration of the measuring method 57 -3 2.7.6 Determination of the phosphorus (PO4 ) concentrations 59 2.7.6.1 Determination method 59 2.7.6.2 Calibration of the measuring method 59 2.8 Analysis of the solid waste 61 2.8.1 Solid waste in the swirl separator: sampling and preparation for analysis 61 2.8.2 Solid waste in the foam fractionator: sampling and preparation for analysis 63 2.8.3 Analysis for the determination of carbon and nitrogen content in the solids 63 2.8.4 Analysis for the determination of phosphorus content in the solids 63 2.8.5 Analysis for the determination of energy content in the solids 64 2.8.6 Analysis for the determination of ashfree organic content 65 2.9 Particle size analysis 65 2.10 Optical examination of particulate matter in the RAS 66 2.11 Bacteria in the RAS 66 2.11.1 Bacteria number, biomass and survival percentage 66 2.11.1.1 Method I: Total bacteria number and bacteria biomass 67 2.11.1.2 Method II: Heterotrophic plate count 69 2.11.2 Microscopic examination of bacteria 70 2.12 Water flow in the RAS 71 3 Results 73 3.1 Growth performance of Dicentrarchus labrax 74 3.1.1 Weight and length increment over time 74 3.1.2 Specific growth rate 77 3.1.3 Feeding and feed amount 79 3.1.4 Feed conversion ratio 81 3.1.5 Condition factor 81 3.1.6 Mortality 83 3.1.7 Fish yield and quality 84 3.2 Water physical characteristics in the culture system 86 3.2.1 Temperature and salinity 86 3.2.2 Dissolved oxygen concentration 87 3.2.3 pH in the culture system 88 3.3 Dissolved nutrients concentrations in the culture system 89 3.3.1 Water renewal (exchange) 89 3.3.2 Water quality in the outlet of the swirl separator 90 3.3.3 Water quality in the inlet and outlet of the biofilter (nitrification) 94 3.3.4 Water quality in the outlet of the foam fractionator 99 3.3.5 Water quality in the outlet of the additional biofilter 105 3.3.6 Water quality in the inlet of the fish tanks 109 3.4 Particulate matter in the culture system 112 3.4.1 Nutrients, organic and energy composition of the solid matter in the RAS 112 3.4.2 Description of particle shape and size 128 3.4.3 Particle size analysis 145 3.4.4 Bacteria in the system 148 3.4.5 The influence of ozone on particle size distribution and nutrients 156 3.4.6 Particle size analyses during the experiments with and without ozone treatment 164 3.4.6.1 Particle size analysis with ozone treatment 164 3.4.6.2 Particle size analysis without ozone treatment 167 3.4.7 Water flow in the RAS 170 4 Discussion 173 4.1 RAS conception and design in light of the state of the art 173 4.1.1 Design considerations in terms of efficient water transport and particle removal 174 4.2 Growth performance of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) 175 4.3 Performance of the biofiltration (nitrification) 180 4.4 Performance of the suspended solid separation 185 4.5 Particle characterization in effluent of the swirl separator 191 4.6 Particle size analysis 192 4.7 Bacteria in the RAS 194 4.7.1 Bacteria removal by counter-current foam stripping 194 4.7.2 The effect of ozone on total suspended solids in a RAS 198 4.8 Conclusions 202 5 References 205 Annex 219 Erklärung Danksagung Lebenslauf Summary Summary The proper management of suspended solids is one of the key factors determining the successful operation of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). In this thesis the qualitative and quantitative changes of total suspended solids (TSS) in a RAS were investigated, specifically addressing particle size distribution and removal efficiency for various size fractions of particles that were retained by the employed filtration units. The RAS configuration under study was designed to evaluate the performance of a system configuration that involved a two-step solid separation procedure (swirl separator and foam fractionation), each of them independent, however, partly affecting each others performance. The system was also designed to operate at low energy consumption and at a low water replacement. European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) was the target fish species reared over the main study period of 437 days. The performance of fish served as criteria to assess the functionality of the system in terms of fish growth and feed conversion efficiency. During the key investigational period the system was operated at a temperature of about 23°C. Water quality was continuously monitored and maintained within safe limits (ranges for the core study period: temperature 20°C -1 -1 - to 24°C; salinity 20 to 25 psu; O2 6 to 8 mg*L ; pH 7 to 8; TAN 0.5 to 1.5 mg*L ; NO2 -N 0.1 to 0.7 mg*L-1) . Water replacement in the system accounted on average about 1% per day of the total system volume. The two step solid separation techniques allowed to maintain fairly clear water conditions over the entire experimental period. The swirl separator worked effectively capturing solids coming from the fish tanks. The nutrient composition of the solids varied over time, depending on the nutrient content in the feed (nitrogen, carbon, phosphorous, ashfree organic, energy). Suspended solids were examined to determine shape and structure in samples from the swirl separator. Particle size distribution was studied by subsequent filtering samples from both, swirl separator and foam fractionator, through mesh sizes of 50µm, 100µm, 200µm, 400µm, 800µm, and 1600µm. Very fine particles were always captured (through scavenging with larger particle fractions). The results indicated that fines (<45 µm) dominated by number the particles removed. This is considered an important finding from a system management point of view. The removal of fine solids and bacterial biomass by counter-current foam stripping was determined. The use of ozone was beneficial in terms of enhanced foam formation, particle aggregation, subsequent removal of fines, and reduced bacterial counts. The data collected during this study can be used to estimate the growth of European sea bass cultured in a RAS from juvenile stages to table-sized fish (300g). Data also allow estimates for calculating nutrient inputs (feed), feed composition, nutrient retention (fish growth and conversion) as well as outputs (soluble and particulate wastes). The results obtained provide also a base to estimate mass balances of solids produced in a RAS that integrates cost-effective treatment processes at a high rate of water re-use. 9 Summary 10 Zusammenfassung Zusammenfassung Die effiziente Entfernung von im Wasser suspendierten, partikulären Feststoffen ist ein Schlüssel- faktor für den erfolgreichen Betrieb von Kreislaufanlagen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die Feststoffe in einem Kreislaufsystem (Recirculating Aquaculture System, RAS) für Fische (Wolfs- barsch, Dicentrarchus labrax) qualitativ und quantitativ analysiert, wobei insbesondere die Größen- verteilung der Feststoffe und die Rückhaltung in den mechanischen Filtereinheiten.