Nutrient removal and methane production from the waste sludge of shrimp aquaculture production system using sequencing batch reactor

Creating fiscally and environmentally responsible waste treatment methods is one key for enhancing shrimp aquaculture in the United States. Sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) allow significant reduction in costs such as relocation of shrimp production system further inland, less infrastructure, smaller space requirements, and recycling of the water and salt. SBRs adapt the activated sludge process and enable it to be completed within a single reactor vessel cycling through aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Microbes contained within the activated sludge conduct nitrification and denitrification processes.  Significant reduction of nutrients is possible creating environmentally responsible intensive recirculating raceways meeting environmental protection agency (EPA) regulations, while at the same time reducing costs typically associated with these types of raceways. A pilot SBR was run successfully using shrimp waste from a shrimp aquaculture production system, which removed 99.5% carbon and 98% of nitrogen in the waste and it produced significant amount of methane during the anaerobic cycle.