Reduction of phosphate and nitrate in shrimp aquaculture wastewater using microalgae and macroalgae: A comparison of uptake performance

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Persian Gulf Research Institute, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran

2 Department of Lab Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

3 Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

10.22124/cjes.2025.8723

Abstract

The shrimp farming industry faces environmental challenges, such as the production of wastewater rich in organic matter and nutrients, which can pose a threat to marine ecosystems. The main objective of this research is to treat this wastewater before its release. For this study, three species of macroalgae—Gracilaria pygmaea, Rhizoclonium riparium, and Sargassum glaucescens—were collected from the shores of the Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province). Additionally, a microalgae species, Nannochloropsis oculata, was obtained from a cultivation center. The results indicated that R. riparium exhibited the highest efficiency among the macroalgae, with a 70% nitrate removal capability within 48 hours. However, N. oculata demonstrated the highest overall efficiency, achieving 85% nitrate removal. This study highlights that the examined microalgae species (N. oculata) exhibited a greater capacity for absorbing and removing nitrates and phosphates compared to the studied macroalgae species. These findings could contribute to improving wastewater treatment processes associated with the shrimp farming industry.

Keywords

References

Ajala, SO & Alexander, ML 2020, Assessment of Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus obliquus, and Oocystis minuta for removal of sulfate, nitrate, and phosphate in wastewater. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 11: 311-326, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40095-019-00333-0.
Anderson, DM, Glibert, PM & Burkholder, JM 2020, Harmful algal blooms and eutrophication: Nutrient sources, composition, and consequences. Estuaries and Coasts, 25: 704-726.
Azizi, S, Bayat, B, Tayebati, H, Hashemi, A & Pajoum Shariati, F 2021, Nitrate and phosphate removal from treated wastewater by Chlorella vulgaris under various light regimes within membrane flat plate photobioreactor. Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, 40(2), Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.13519.
Baker, P, Cook, P & North, A 2010, Sampling and analysis of shrimp pond effluents. Aquaculture Engineering, 42: 14-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng.2009.12.001.
Bhatnagar, A & Sillanpää, M 2021, Algae as sustainable biofilters for the treatment of wastewater: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 760: 143302.
Bibak, M, Tahmasebi, S, Safavi, E & Hassan, NE 2025, Introducing a new method to determine the capacity of heavy metal absorption by macroalgae on the coast of the Persian Gulf based on Kullback-Leibler cumulative information. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 221: 105466, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2025.105466.
Bibak, M, Safavi, E & Tahmasebi, S 2024, Estimation of trace elements in sediments by macroalgae: A case study in the northern coast of the Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province). Environmental Health Engineering and Management, 11: 451-458.
Bibak, M, Sattari, M & Tahmasebi, S 2024 Investigation of biosorption capacity of algae: selection of most efficient biosorbent for metal removal. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences India Section B: Biological Sciences, 94: 217-226. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-023-01524-w.
Bibak, M, Tahmasebi, S & Sattari, M 2023, Using empirical negative cumulative extropy and image quality assessment to determine the accumulation of elements in marine organisms. Marine Environmental Research, 185: 105882, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.105882.
Brown, A & Green, R 2018, Nutrient uptake and regulation in aquatic species. In: Aquatic biology: Mechanisms of transport and uptake (pp. 234-245). Springer, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01379-0.
Cai, T, Park, SY & Li, Y 2019, Nutrient recovery from wastewater streams by microalgae: Status and prospects. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 19: 360-369.
Doe, J & Smith, R 2021, Nutrient removal efficiencies in algae using spectrophotometric analysis for nitrate and phosphate quantification. Environmental Science and Technology, 55: 567-574, https://doi.org/10.1021/ es503225f.
Falkowski, PG & Raven, JA 2007, Nutrient acquisition and assimilation in autotrophic and mixotrophic protists. Journal of Phycology, 43: 649-665.
Gao, F, Yang, ZH, Li, C, Wang, Y, Jin, W & Deng, Y 2014, Concentrated microalgae cultivation in treated sewage by membrane photobioreactor operated in batch flow mode. Bioresource Technology, 167: 441-446.
Gao, Y, Liao, Q, Wu, Z & Zhou, X 2014, Evaluation of wastewater management practices in shrimp aquaculture. Environmental Science & Technology, 48: 8883-8891, https://doi.org/10.1021/es501228u.
Garima, S, Neelam, Y, Suresh, KY & Vikram, SY 2023, Advances in algae-based wastewater treatment technologies: From biomass production to nutrient recovery. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 174: 112978.
Habibi, A, Nematzadeh, GA, Shariati, FP, Amrei, HD & Teymouri, A 2019 Effect of light/dark cycle on nitrate and phosphate removal from synthetic wastewater based on BG11 medium by Scenedesmus sp., 3 Biotech, 9: 150, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-019-1679-7.
Hargreaves, JA, Davis, RH & McNevin, AA 2008, Water quality management for shrimp aquaculture. Aquaculture Research, 39: 413-421, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2109.2008.02003.x.
Jones, A & Lee, S 2020, Filtration and nutrient analysis of aquaculture effluent: A method for improving water quality in shrimp farming, Aquaculture Engineering, 48: 134-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng. 2020.01.003.
Kumar, A & Sharma, P 2021 Advances in algal biotechnology for sustainabl e water management. Journal of Environmental Management, 299: 113644.
Kumar, P, Kumar, R & Singh, H 2018, Ecology of Rhizoclonium riparium in the intertidal zone of the Persian Gulf. Marine Biology Research, 14: 299-306, https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2018.1440309.
Lin, H, Liu, X, Zhang, S & Wang, Y 2021, Phosphate uptake and transport in plants: An elaborate regulatory system. Plant Science, 302: 110703.
Matsumoto, K, Tanaka, Y & Gamo, T 2020, Applications of Nannochloropsis oculata in biodiesel production and aquaculture. Journal of Applied Phycology, 32: 107-117, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-020-02091-7.
Mohan, VS, Chinnasamy, VR, Das, RS, Reddy, SNSY & Anbu, CSR 2020, Microalgae for wastewater treatment and bioremediation. In: Biological Wastewater Treatment, Elsevier, pp. 365-389.
Nelson, M & Clark, D 2017 Phosphate uptake and regulation in aquatic organisms. In Biological Adaptations in Aquatic Environments (pp. 112-130). Academic Press, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-812345-8.00010-7.
Nguyen, LN, Aditya, L, Vu, HP et al. 2022, Nutrient removal by algae-based wastewater treatment. Current Pollution Reports, 8: 369-383, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-022-00230-x.
Pakzad Tochaii, S, Einollahi Pir, F, Rahdari, A & Khosrowanizadeh, A 2019, Investigation of halophytic plants to reduce environmental impacts of shrimp farm effluent. In: 1st National Conference on Marine Sciences and Sustainable Development, Chabahar, Iran. Available at: https://civilica.com/doc/1012510.
Pereira, R & Yarish, C 2008, The role of nitrogen and phosphorus in the development of Gracilaria tikvahiae (Rhodophyta) tetrasporic plants. Journal of Phycology, 44: 1-9.
Powell, N, Shilton, AN, Pratt, S & Chisti, Y 2008, Factors influencing luxury uptake of phosphorus by microalgae in waste stabilization ponds. Environmental Science & Technology, 42: 5958-5962. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/ 10.1021/es703118s.
Ravindra, K, Singh, LD, Shilpa, K, Priyanka, K & Madhusree, SB 2022, Algae-based bioremediation technologies for wastewater treatment: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 302: 113816.
Safi, C & Ben Rebah, F 2020, Physiological and biochemical responses of microalgae to nitrate availability: Implications for bioremediation and biofuel production. Journal of Applied Phycology, 32: 1433-1447, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-020-02132-4.
Sarkar, D, Parida, A, Samal, M & Ghosh, S 2019, Diversity of macroalgae in the Persian Gulf. Aquatic Botany, 154: 63-71, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2019.01.008.
SEAIRAN 2023, Attention to nature-based approaches for shrimp farm effluent management. Available at: https://seairan.com.
Singh, J & Singh, R 2015, Role of algae in environmental sustainability. Frontiers in Plant Science, 6, p. 124.
Smith, J & Green, P 2020, Nitrate and phosphate uptake in different algal species: A comparative study. Journal of Phycology, 56: 245-256.
Smith, J & Brown, A 2020, Effects of pH and aeration on algal growth and nutrient uptake in controlled aquatic environments. Journal of Algal Research, 45: 123-134. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal. 2020.01.012.
Smith, J & Johnson, L 2019, Mechanisms of phosphate uptake and utilization in algal species: Enzyme regulation and transport efficiency. Journal of Phycology, 58: 1097-1105, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/ jpy.12876.
Stedt, K, Pavia, H & Toth, GB 2022, Cultivation in wastewater increases growth and nitrogen content of seaweeds: A meta-analysis. Algal Research, 61: 102573.
Sutherland, DL, Park, J, Heubeck, S, Ralph, PJ & Craggs, RJ 2020 Size matters – Microalgae production and nutrient removal in wastewater treatment high-rate algal ponds of three different sizes. Algal Research, 45: 101734.
Turan, M & Dönmez, G 2022, Role of microalgae in nitrate removal and biofuel production: A review of mechanisms and strategies. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29: 1-17, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13781-4.
Venkata, RH, Subrahmanyam, S & Surendran, P 2021, Sustainable practices for wastewater treatment in aquaculture. Environmental Science & Policy, 119, pp. 124-130. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.12.008.
Wang, H, Hu, Z, Hu, Y & Li, J 2018 The utilization of microalgae in wastewater treatment and bioproducts production. Sustainability, 10: 760.
Williams, K & Turner, B 2020, Evolutionary adaptations and cellular mechanisms in phosphate uptake: Enzyme regulation and internal storage strategies in algae. Aquatic Biology, 67: pp. 234-242, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabiol.2020.04.009.
Zarei, A, Karami, M & Fadaei, R 2019 Evaluation of Nannochloropsis oculata as a feed supplement in aquaculture. Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences, 18: 1043-1055, Available at: https://doi.org/10.22092/ ijfs.2019.119227.
Zhang, M, Wang, L & Li, P 2024, Growth and phosphate uptake of microalgae under different phosphate species and concentrations. E3S Web of Conferences, 573 p.
Zhang, Y, Wang, X & Li, B 2020, Ecology and distribution of Sargassum glaucescens in the Persian Gulf. Journal of Phycology, 56: 1134-1142, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.13043.
Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 06 May 2025

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics