Towards sustainable system configuration for the treatment of fish processing wastewater using bioreactors

The wastewater generated from fish processing industry contains a credible level of biodegradable proteins and low biodegradable fats, oils, and grease (FOG). The conventional biological treatment of fish processing wastewater (FPWW) containing high concentration of FOG faces the challenges of clogging, hindrance to sedimentation due to the formation of hydrophobic sludge along with lipids, flocculation of sludge with poor activity, dewatering of sludge due to the presence of lipids, and formation of aminated offensive odors. The present investigation employed baffled moving bed biofilm reactor (BMBBR), up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, fluidized immobilized cell carbon oxidation (FICCO) reactor, and chemoautotrophic activated carbon oxidation (CAACO) reactors in series to treat FPWW. Five treatment options were evaluated to elevate the correct option for the treatment of FPWW. The treatment option V had established the removal efficiency of COD, 99 ± 0.1%; protein, 99 ± 0.2%; lipids, 100%; and oil and grease, 100%.