7th International Conference on Environment (ICENV2021) – Virtual Conference

6-7th October 2021, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang

Optimization of Nitrate Production from Aquaculture

Wastewater in a High-Rate Aerobic Reactor for a Hydroponic
Spinach Growth
Khun Eng1, Rathborey Chan2,3, Saret Bun2, Ratboren Chan2,3, Phaly Ham2,3, Ty Sok2,3
1
Water and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School,
Institute of Technology of Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12156, Cambodia
2
Faculty of Hydrology and Water Resource Engineering,
Institute of Technology of Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12156, Cambodia
3
Water and Environment Research Unit, Research and Innovation Center,
Institute of Technology of Cambodia, Phnom Penh 12156, Cambodia
e-mail: chanrathborey@itc.edu.kh

Treatment of an inorganic nitrogen-rich wastewater, which is a by-product of all aquaculture

methods, is a key issue for the long-term sustainability of aquaculture. As a consequence,
an aerobic reactor should be considered since it offers a site for nitrifying bacteria to convert
ammonia (NH3+), which is poisonous to fish, into nitrate (NO3-), a more accessible nutrient
for hydroponic vegetables. Therefore, this study aims to optimize NO3- production from
synthetic aquaculture wastewater in the high-rate aerobic reactor (HRAR) for a hydroponic
spinach growth. The high-rate aerobic condition (DO 5-6 mg/L) was tested in a batch
diffused aerator with pH of 5-8, biomass content of 2-8 g/L, and hydraulic retention time
(HRT) of 1-5 hr. As a consequence of the batch tests, an optimum operating condition for the
HRAR was determined, and the effluent containing NO3- was subsequently utilized to grow
spinach in a hydroponic system. After an operation, an optimal condition was defined as a
biomass concentration of 4 g/L and a HRT of 4 hours, with a pH value ranging from 7 to 8.
Within this condition, NO3- production could reach to 10 mg/L with the nitrification rate of
around 0.68 mg/g.MLVSS.hr, whereas COD and NH3+ removal in HRAR system was 78.8%
and 88.4%, respectively. The effluent containing NO3- could grow the spinach in the
hydroponic system with the mean weight and length increasing rate of 0.75 g/spinach.d and
0.47 cm/spinach.d. In this case, mean NO3- consumption rate was estimated of 0.41
mg/spinach.hr. Besides that, the COD and NH3+ removal could increase of 6.2% and 4.9%
due to an activity of microbials, which attached in the sponge culture. In sum up, the HRAR
operating under neutral to alkaline condition, HRT of 4 hr, and biomass concentration of 4
g/L could simultaneously optimize NO3- production and remove organic and nitrogen with
high removal efficiency. Within amount of the NO3- production, the spinach produced in the
soilless growth method was 30% to 40% faster than soil-based cultivation, and this
approach exactly saved time for spinach development stage of almost 1–2 weeks.

The authors are grateful to European Union (EU) and Agence Française de Développement
(AFD), for financial in site investigation and samples collection. All laboratory works were
funded by ASEAN University Network/Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development
Network (AUN/SEED-Net) Program of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
through The Alumni Support Program for Research No. ITC ASP-R 2021.