Bioremediation Bioremediation Systems to Treat Systems to Treat Nursery RunoffNursery RunoffChris Wilson and Tom YeagerChris Wilson and Tom Yeager

University of Florida/IFASUniversity of Florida/IFAS

Joe AlbanoJoe AlbanoUSDA/ARS Horticultural Research LabUSDA/ARS Horticultural Research Lab

ObjectivesObjectives

To evaluate the feasibility of To evaluate the feasibility of adapting and using common adapting and using common aquaculture bioremediation aquaculture bioremediation technology for removing nutrients technology for removing nutrients from nursery runoff water.from nursery runoff water.

ObjectivesObjectives

Determination of conditions for Determination of conditions for optimization of:optimization of: Nitrification (Conversion of ammonia to Nitrification (Conversion of ammonia to

nitrate)nitrate) Denitrification (Conversion of nitrate to Denitrification (Conversion of nitrate to

nitrogen gas)nitrogen gas) Phosphate precipitationPhosphate precipitation

Process RequirementsProcess Requirements NitrificationNitrification

Aerobic processAerobic process NHNH33/NH/NH44

++ to NO to NO22--: : Nitrosomonas, Nitrosoccus, Nitrospira, Nitrosomonas, Nitrosoccus, Nitrospira,

Nitrosolobus, NitrosovibrioNitrosolobus, Nitrosovibrio NONO22

-- to NO to NO33--: : Nitrobacter, Nitrococcus, Nitrospira, Nitrobacter, Nitrococcus, Nitrospira,

NitrospinaNitrospina Nitrifying bacteria are primarily obligate autotrophs, Nitrifying bacteria are primarily obligate autotrophs,

consuming COconsuming CO22 as their primary C-source as their primary C-source DenitrificationDenitrification

Anaerobic/anoxic processAnaerobic/anoxic process Nitrate serves as electron acceptor for oxidation of organic Nitrate serves as electron acceptor for oxidation of organic

compound (sometimes inorganic)compound (sometimes inorganic) Primarily organic C-sourcePrimarily organic C-source

Phosphate precipitationPhosphate precipitation Change from low redox potential to higher one can co-Change from low redox potential to higher one can co-

precipitate phosphate with iron and calciumprecipitate phosphate with iron and calcium

Applications of Aquaculture Applications of Aquaculture Bio-filtration TechnologyBio-filtration Technology

Project StagesProject Stages

Phase 1: Pilot studiesPhase 1: Pilot studies Small scaleSmall scale Determine optimal conditionsDetermine optimal conditions

Phase 2 and 3: Scale up to nursery-Phase 2 and 3: Scale up to nursery-sizesize Implement systems on working Implement systems on working

nurseries for evaluationnurseries for evaluation

Basic Reactor Basic Reactor DesignDesign

SumpReactor 1Reactor 2

Kaldness MediaKaldness Media

Flow rates controlled Flow rates controlled using …using …

Study DesignStudy Design

Water Supply Canal

Controls-no media-

Nitrification-media-

Denitrification-media-

-Low Redox-

Phosphorus Precipitation

-media--High Redox-

Primary variable for Primary variable for evaluation …evaluation …

Water flow ratesWater flow rates

AnalytesAnalytes

NutrientsNutrients Nitrate and ammoniaNitrate and ammonia Reactive phosphateReactive phosphate

Biological Oxygen DemandBiological Oxygen Demand REDOX potentialREDOX potential pHpH Dissolved oxygenDissolved oxygen Select pesticidesSelect pesticides

ResultsResults

Performance characterizationPerformance characterization Flow rate vs. removal Flow rate vs. removal

efficiency/performanceefficiency/performance Will aid in determining configuration Will aid in determining configuration

for stage 2 project implementationfor stage 2 project implementation

Potential ImpactPotential Impact

Phosphorus Precipitation NitrificationDenitrification