Optimization of Conventional and Novel Methods for Removing Carbon Dioxide from Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are land based fish farms that recycle the water from the fish tanks using multiple water treatment processes. Fish produce large amounts of carbon dioxide, through respiration, that needs to be removed during the water treatment process since high levels of carbon dioxide are hazardous to fish. Currently the most common method of removing carbon dioxide from recirculating water is with degassing towers. Moving bed biofilters and sidewall-box airlift pumps could also be used as a method of carbon dioxide control. The focus of this research project is to determine the optimal combination for carbon dioxide control in RAS. Moving bed biofilters, sidewall-box airlift pumps and degassing towers will be optimized for economical carbon dioxide removal. Determining the optimal method of carbon dioxide degassing in RAS will decrease operating and capital costs and potentially the complexity of RAS. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Michel Couturier

Student:

Sarah Preston

Partner:

Cooke Aquaculture Corp.

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Fisheries and wildlife

University:

Program: