1. Master Thesis

- Thesis topic: An Integrated Reclamation Process for Aquaculture Wastewater (AWW) using Sand Filtration, Membrane Distillation, and Adsorption 

- Doi: https://doi.org/10.6840/cycu202201044

- Abstract: 

        World aquaculture has the most significant growth rate and has become a response to human food demand, increasing effluent discouragement, particularly of enormous concentrations of organic matter and nutrients discharged into the environment. Thus, the present study investigates the multi-stages (e.g., sand filtration, air gap membrane distillation (AGMD), and adsorption) for reclaiming the aquaculture wastewater as a substrate for cultivating newly cultivated species that exceed the water quality standard. The results exhibited a deeper sand filter depth (e.g., 20 cm) as the optimal parameter was observed for removal efficiency of turbidity, SS, BOD, and COD were 81.33%, 73.78%, 93.75%, and 51.72%, respectively. Moreover, The optimal parameter conditions in AGMD have selected feed concentration at 70 ℃, feed pH at 7, and void spacer width at 0.6 mm, which reached a high water production rate, low SEEC, and decent water consumption cost with good water quality. The highest permeate flux on the optimal feed temperature, feed pH, and void spacer width was obtained at 8.71, 6.95, and 8.93 kg/m2h. The removal rate of COD, PO43--P, and TOC were achieved by >90%. In contrast, the ammoniacal nitrogen was reached by >80%. The highest phosphate removal was achieved by 99% on contact time at 20 min for the adsorption process. The maximum capacity was 18.28 mgP/g, and equilibrium adsorbed phosphate reached around 7.904 mg P/g. Furthermore, the optimal parameters of the combined treatment process were achieved with high contaminant removal efficiencies, which fulfill the acceptable water quality standard for newly cultured fish.

Keywords: Aquaculture wastewater (AWW), Sand Filtration, Air Gap Membrane Distillation (AGMD), Adsorption