Bioreactors
Two categories of Nitrifying Bioreactors are offered:
• Stringed Bed Suspended Bioreactor (SBSBR)
• Packed Bed Bioreactor (PBBR)
Both are bio film reactors – with indigenously developed nitrifying bacterial consortia immobilized on cartridges
In-Situ Stringed Bed Suspended Bioreactor (SBSBR)
The reactor has four components such as
- The outer fiberglass shell with conical bottom.
- Inner cartridge comprising Perspex framework and plastic beads on string.
- Airlift pump, and
- Black lid at top with perforations.
On suspending the reactor one foot below the water level on a float, and operating the airlift pump, water enters the reactor through the perforations on top of the black lid, passes through the cartridge and flows out. When water comes in contact with the immobilized bacteria on the surface of the beads, nitrification takes place and dissolved ammonia in the water is converted to nitrates. The framework of the inner cartridge is made in such a way that larvae, plankton, and food particles when enters, pass out through the airlift pump without mutilation and damage.
Ex-Situ Packed Bed Bioreactor (PBBR)
The reactor proper is made of fiberglass shell. Each reactor has 9 aeration cells, which are enabled to be operated as per the requirement and the reactor is fitted to the top of the airlift pump with beads suitable for immobilizing consortium used. With the beads, packed in the reactor, it has a surface area > 4158 cm 3 between the water and immobilized bacteria thereby facilitating conversion of Ammonia to nitrates. A reservoir tank and a collecting tank are integrated for facilitating flow of water from the former to the latter.
The ex situ packed bed bioreactor (PBBR) serves the purpose of reuse and recycling of spent water for larval production and for the treatment of fresh seawater taken into the hatcheries.
The technology package
The technology package for establishing recirculating aquaculture systems consists of
- Nitrifying bioreactors
- Detritus degrading bioaugmentor ‘Detrodigest TM , composed of hydrolytic Bacillus MCCB 101
- Antagonistic probiotic preparation ‘EnterotrophoticTM, to manage Vibrio in the system. This is composed of Bacillus MCCB 101 and Arthrobacter MCCB 104.
Difference between Nitrifying Bioreactors and other kinds of filters.
| Areas of difference | Existing / Traditional Industry way | Nitrifying Bioreactor |
| Water treatment procedure
|
Fine sand based fluidized bed filters. | In what way are the Nitrifying Bioreactors, (SBSBR & PBBR) different from the fluidized bed filters currently available in the market?
In short, the nitrifying bioreactor technology having SBSBR and PBBR as two discrete systems activated by specific nitrifying bacterial consortia is unique in design and is user friendly and there exists no comparison between these two categories of devices. |
APPLICATIONS
The Nitrifying bioreactors have the following applications in the hatcheries as given below.
SBSBR
- Insitu nitrification in larval production system
- Quarantine of the broodstock
- Live animal transportation
PBBR
- Establishment of Recirculating Aquaculture systems for maturation and brood stock maintenance.
- Establishment of Recirculating Aquaculture systems for larval production.
- Nitrification of the incoming water from sea.
- Spent water treatment and reuse.
Nitrifying bioreactors can be used in any marine/brackish water seed production systems including those of Prawn, Shrimp, finfishes, mollusks etc., and also in ornamental fish culture systems.