IA25620 Vol. 24 No. 3 (2025)

Vol. 24, No. 3 (2025), IA25620 https://doi.org/10.24275/rmiq/IA25620

Treatment of brackish sardine processing wastewater employing an integrated anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic fixed-bed reactor

Authors

C.D. Loreto-Muñoz, C. Gastelum-Rosas, G. López-Avilés, M. Plascencia-Jatomea, F.J. Almendariz-Tapia

Abstract

Marine product processing of sardines, shrimp, and squid generates large quantities of wastewater with high organic matter, protein, nitrogen, and salts. Biological wastewater treatment for brackish sardine processing wastewater (SPW) requires the combination of anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic stages and microorganisms that can tolerate brackish conditions. This study evaluates the treatment of brackish sardine processing wastewater in an integrated anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic fixed-bed reactor. Anaerobic and aerobic consortia were adapted to denitrifying and nitrifying conditions with synthetic influents. The treatment of a synthetic influent mimicking a brackish sardine processing wastewater was evaluated in the integrated anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic up-flow reactor once both reactors reached steady state. The reactor operated with gradual salinity increases from 1 – 14 g NaCl/L, 2 d HRT, 7.5 pH, and 35C. The increase to 14 g NaCl/L, pH control, and nitrate recirculation (Stage VI) favored the performance of the IAAB, attaining an overall 94.1% COD removal, 99.70% protein removal, 92.86% protein hydrolysis, and 21.93% nitrate yield. This study shows the feasibility of employing an integrated anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic reactor to treat industrial sardine effluents containing carbon and nitrogen compounds.

Keywords

brackish wastewater, sardine processing wastewater, integrated anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic reactor, salinity, protein hydrolysis.

References
Casero-Díaz, T., Castro-Barros, C., Taboada-Santos, A., Rodríguez-Hernández, L., Mauricio-Iglesias, M., and Carballa, M. (2024). Turning fish canning wastewater into resources: Effluents and operational conditions selection for volatile fatty acids production. Journal of Water Process Engineering. 64, 2–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.105738. Chan, Y. J., Chong, M. F., Law, C. L., and Hassell, D. G. (2009). A review on anaerobic-aerobic treatment of industrial and municipal wastewater. Chemical Engineering Journal. 155(1–2), 1–18. https://dor.org/10.1016/j.cej.2009.06.041. Chen, Y., Sanjaya, E. H., Guo, G., and Li, Y. Y. (2021). High nitrogen removal performance of anaerobically treated fish processing wastewater by one-stage partial nitritation and anammox process with hydroxyapatite (HAP)-based syntrophic granules and granule structure. Bioresource Technology. 338(May), 125526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125526. Choudhury, A., Lepine, C., Witarsa, F., and Good, C. (2022). Anaerobic digestion challenges and resource recovery opportunities from land-based aquaculture waste and seafood processing byproducts: A review. Bioresource Technology. 354, 127144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127144. Chowdhury, P., Viraraghavan, T., and Srinivasan, A. (2010). Biological treatment processes for fish processing wastewater. Bioresource Technology. 101, 439–449. Feizi, R., Kazemi, Zohre, Kazemi, Zahra, Jorfi, S., Reshadatian, N., and Jaafarzadeh, N. (2024). A review on efficient technologies for fish canning wastewater treatment. Desalination and Water Treatment. 317, 100220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2024.100220. Hernández-Fydrych, V. C., Castilla-Hernández, P., Beristain-Cardoso, R., Trejo-Aguilar, G. M., and Fajardo-Ortiz, C. (2018). COD and ammonium removal in SBR operated under different combinations using pre-treated slaughterhouse wastewater.Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química. 17(2), 621–631. https://doi.org/10.24275/10.24275/uam/izt/revmexingquim/2018v17n2/Hernandez. Huiliñir, C., Hernández, S., Aspé, E., and Roeckel, M. (2012). Simultaneous nitrate and organic matter removal from salmon industry wastewater: The effect of C/N ratio, nitrate concentration and organic load rate on batch and continuous process. Journal of Environmental Management. 101(82–91). Ismail, I. N., Taufik, M., Umor, N. A., Norulhuda, M. R., Zulkarnaini, Z., and Ismail, S. (2022). Anammox process for aquaculture wastewater treatment: operational condition, mechanism, and future prospective. Water Science and Technology. 86(12), 3093–3112. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2022.403. Jemli, M., Karray, F., Feki, F., Loukil, S., Mhiri, N., Aloui, F., and Sayadi, S. (2015). Biological treatment of fish processing wastewater: A case study from Sfax City (Southeastern Tunisia). Journal of Environmental Sciences. 30, 102–112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2014.11.002. Khan, A., Khan, S. J., Miran, W., Zaman, W. Q., Aslam, A., and Shahzad, H. M. A. (2023). Feasibility Study of Anaerobic Baffled Reactor Coupled with Anaerobic Filter Followed by Membrane Filtration for Wastewater Treatment. Membranes. 13(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13010079. Lanzagorta-Cortes, R., Romo-Gómez, C., Camacho-López, C., Aceedo-Sandoval, O. ., González-Ramírez, C. ., and Leyva-Morales, J. (2025). Efficiency of a denitrifying sludge in a UASB reactor fed with whey. Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química. 24(1). https://doi.org/10.24275/rmiq/IA24384. Mahat, S. B., Omar, R., Che Man, H., Mohamad Idris, A. I., Mustapa Kamal, S. M., Idris, A., Shreeshivadasan, C., Jamali, N. S., and Abdullah, L. C. (2021). Performance of dynamic anaerobic membrane bioreactor (DAnMBR) with phase separation in treating high strength food processing wastewater. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 9(3), 105245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.105245. Medellín-Castillo, N. ., Arvizu-Vázquez, S., Gallegos-García, M., Hidalgo-Millán, A., and Espinoza-Rodríguez, M. A. (2024). Evaluation of nitrification and denitrification in an activated sludge process through mass balance using GPS-X software. Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química. 23(3). https://doi.org/10.24275/rmiq/IA24268. Negari, M. S. (2023). Denitrification of recirculated aquaculture system effluents using fish sludge as primary substrate. Masters Thesis Environmental Engineering, Offshore Environmental Technology, University of Stavenger, Norway. Panpong, K., Srimachai, T., Nuithitikul, K., Kongjan, P., O-thong, S., Imai, T., and Kaewthong, N. (2017). Anaerobic co-digestion between canned sardine wastewater and glycerol waste forbiogas production: Effect of different operating processes. Energy Procedia. 138, 260–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.10.050. Paulo, A. M. S., Amorim, C. L., Costa, J., Mesquita, D. P., Ferreira, E. C., and Castro, P. M. L. (2021). Long-term stability of a non-adapted aerobic granular sludge process treating fish canning wastewater associated to EPS producers in the core microbiome. Science of the Total Environment. 756, 144007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144007. Pereira, M. J., Grosjean, O., Pintado, M., Brazinha, C., and Crespo, J. (2022). Clean Technologies for Production of Valuable Fractions from Sardine Cooking Wastewaters: An Integrated Process of Flocculation and Reverse Osmosis.Clean Tecnologies.4, 276–295. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol14020016. Peterson, G. L. (1977). A Simplification of the Protein Assay Method of Lowry et al. Which is More Generally Applicable. Anal. Biochem. 83, 346–356. Powell, G. E. and Archer, D. B. (1989). On‐line titration method for monitoring buffer capacity and total volatile fatty acid levels in anaerobic digesters. Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 33(5), 570–577. Prihandrijanti, M., Marcos, K. J., and Salim, C. (2021). Integrated anaerobic-aerobic and wetland system for wastewater treatment and recycling in fish canning industry. Chemical Engineering Transactions. 83, 127–132. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET2183022. Rajab, A. R., Salim, M. R., Sohaili, J., Anuar, A. N., Salmiati, and Lakkaboyana, S. K. (2017). Performance of integrated anaerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor treating poultry slaughterhouse wastewater. Chemical Engineering Journal. 313, 967–974. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2016.10.144. Rice, E. and Bridgewater, L. (2012). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (22nd ed). American Public Health Association, Washington, DC. Sanjaya, E. H., Cheng, H., and Li, Y. Y. (2020). Mesophilic methane fermentation performance and ammonia inhibition of fish processing wastewater treatment using a self-agitated anaerobic baffled reactor. Bioresource Technology. 313, 123644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123644. Shi, S., Cui, P., Wang, S., Long, J., and Yang, X. (2025). Effects of High Salinity on Nitrogen Removal Efficiency and Microbial Community Structure in a Three-Stage AO System. Water. 17(8), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081112. Shi, X., Lefevre, O., Kwang, K., and Yong, H. (2014). Sequential anaerobic-aerobic treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater with high salinity. Bioresource Technology. 153, 79–86. Srimachai, T., Imai, T., and Rattanadilok Na Phuket, K. (2024). Biogas and Biohythane Production from Anaerobic Codigestion of Canned Sardine Wastewater with Glycerol Waste. Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports. 27(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.55164/ajstr.v27i2.249551. Val del Rio, A., Pichel, A., Fernandez-Gonzalez, N., Pedrouso, A., Fra-Vázquez, A., Morales, N., Mendez, R., Campos, J. L., and Mosquera-Corral, A. (2018). Performance and microbial features of the partial nitritation-anammox process treating fish canning wastewater with variable salt concentrations. Journal of Environmental Management. 208, 112–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.12.007.

References

Casero-Díaz, T., Castro-Barros, C., Taboada-Santos, A., Rodríguez-Hernández, L., Mauricio-Iglesias, M., and Carballa, M. (2024). Turning fish canning wastewater into resources: Effluents and operational conditions selection for volatile fatty acids production. Journal of Water Process Engineering. 64, 2–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.105738.
Chan, Y. J., Chong, M. F., Law, C. L., and Hassell, D. G. (2009). A review on anaerobic-aerobic treatment of industrial and municipal wastewater. Chemical Engineering Journal. 155(1–2), 1–18. https://dor.org/10.1016/j.cej.2009.06.041.
Chen, Y., Sanjaya, E. H., Guo, G., and Li, Y. Y. (2021). High nitrogen removal performance of anaerobically treated fish processing wastewater by one-stage partial nitritation and anammox process with hydroxyapatite (HAP)-based syntrophic granules and granule structure. Bioresource Technology. 338(May), 125526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125526.
Choudhury, A., Lepine, C., Witarsa, F., and Good, C. (2022). Anaerobic digestion challenges and resource recovery opportunities from land-based aquaculture waste and seafood processing byproducts: A review. Bioresource Technology. 354, 127144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127144.
Chowdhury, P., Viraraghavan, T., and Srinivasan, A. (2010). Biological treatment processes for fish processing wastewater. Bioresource Technology. 101, 439–449.
Feizi, R., Kazemi, Zohre, Kazemi, Zahra, Jorfi, S., Reshadatian, N., and Jaafarzadeh, N. (2024). A review on efficient technologies for fish canning wastewater treatment. Desalination and Water Treatment. 317, 100220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2024.100220.
Hernández-Fydrych, V. C., Castilla-Hernández, P., Beristain-Cardoso, R., Trejo-Aguilar, G. M., and Fajardo-Ortiz, C. (2018). COD and ammonium removal in SBR operated under different combinations using pre-treated slaughterhouse wastewater.Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química. 17(2), 621–631. https://doi.org/10.24275/10.24275/uam/izt/revmexingquim/2018v17n2/Hernandez.
Huiliñir, C., Hernández, S., Aspé, E., and Roeckel, M. (2012). Simultaneous nitrate and organic matter removal from salmon industry wastewater: The effect of C/N ratio, nitrate concentration and organic load rate on batch and continuous process. Journal of Environmental Management. 101(82–91).
Ismail, I. N., Taufik, M., Umor, N. A., Norulhuda, M. R., Zulkarnaini, Z., and Ismail, S. (2022). Anammox process for aquaculture wastewater treatment: operational condition, mechanism, and future prospective. Water Science and Technology. 86(12), 3093–3112. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2022.403.
Jemli, M., Karray, F., Feki, F., Loukil, S., Mhiri, N., Aloui, F., and Sayadi, S. (2015). Biological treatment of fish processing wastewater: A case study from Sfax City (Southeastern Tunisia). Journal of Environmental Sciences. 30, 102–112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2014.11.002.
Khan, A., Khan, S. J., Miran, W., Zaman, W. Q., Aslam, A., and Shahzad, H. M. A. (2023). Feasibility Study of Anaerobic Baffled Reactor Coupled with Anaerobic Filter Followed by Membrane Filtration for Wastewater Treatment. Membranes. 13(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13010079.
Lanzagorta-Cortes, R., Romo-Gómez, C., Camacho-López, C., Aceedo-Sandoval, O. ., González-Ramírez, C. ., and Leyva-Morales, J. (2025). Efficiency of a denitrifying sludge in a UASB reactor fed with whey. Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química. 24(1). https://doi.org/10.24275/rmiq/IA24384.
Mahat, S. B., Omar, R., Che Man, H., Mohamad Idris, A. I., Mustapa Kamal, S. M., Idris, A., Shreeshivadasan, C., Jamali, N. S., and Abdullah, L. C. (2021). Performance of dynamic anaerobic membrane bioreactor (DAnMBR) with phase separation in treating high strength food processing wastewater. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 9(3), 105245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.105245.
Medellín-Castillo, N. ., Arvizu-Vázquez, S., Gallegos-García, M., Hidalgo-Millán, A., and Espinoza-Rodríguez, M. A. (2024). Evaluation of nitrification and denitrification in an activated sludge process through mass balance using GPS-X software. Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química. 23(3). https://doi.org/10.24275/rmiq/IA24268.
Negari, M. S. (2023). Denitrification of recirculated aquaculture system effluents using fish sludge as primary substrate. Masters Thesis Environmental Engineering, Offshore Environmental Technology, University of Stavenger, Norway.
Panpong, K., Srimachai, T., Nuithitikul, K., Kongjan, P., O-thong, S., Imai, T., and Kaewthong, N. (2017). Anaerobic co-digestion between canned sardine wastewater and glycerol waste forbiogas production: Effect of different operating processes. Energy Procedia. 138, 260–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.10.050.
Paulo, A. M. S., Amorim, C. L., Costa, J., Mesquita, D. P., Ferreira, E. C., and Castro, P. M. L. (2021). Long-term stability of a non-adapted aerobic granular sludge process treating fish canning wastewater associated to EPS producers in the core microbiome. Science of the Total Environment. 756, 144007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144007.
Pereira, M. J., Grosjean, O., Pintado, M., Brazinha, C., and Crespo, J. (2022). Clean Technologies for Production of Valuable Fractions from Sardine Cooking Wastewaters: An Integrated Process of Flocculation and Reverse Osmosis.Clean Tecnologies.4, 276–295. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol14020016.
Peterson, G. L. (1977). A Simplification of the Protein Assay Method of Lowry et al. Which is More Generally Applicable. Anal. Biochem. 83, 346–356.
Powell, G. E. and Archer, D. B. (1989). On‐line titration method for monitoring buffer capacity and total volatile fatty acid levels in anaerobic digesters. Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 33(5), 570–577.
Prihandrijanti, M., Marcos, K. J., and Salim, C. (2021). Integrated anaerobic-aerobic and wetland system for wastewater treatment and recycling in fish canning industry. Chemical Engineering Transactions. 83, 127–132. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET2183022.
Rajab, A. R., Salim, M. R., Sohaili, J., Anuar, A. N., Salmiati, and Lakkaboyana, S. K. (2017). Performance of integrated anaerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor treating poultry slaughterhouse wastewater. Chemical Engineering Journal. 313, 967–974. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2016.10.144.
Rice, E. and Bridgewater, L. (2012). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (22nd ed). American Public Health Association, Washington, DC.
Sanjaya, E. H., Cheng, H., and Li, Y. Y. (2020). Mesophilic methane fermentation performance and ammonia inhibition of fish processing wastewater treatment using a self-agitated anaerobic baffled reactor. Bioresource Technology. 313, 123644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123644.
Shi, S., Cui, P., Wang, S., Long, J., and Yang, X. (2025). Effects of High Salinity on Nitrogen Removal Efficiency and Microbial Community Structure in a Three-Stage AO System. Water. 17(8), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081112.
Shi, X., Lefevre, O., Kwang, K., and Yong, H. (2014). Sequential anaerobic-aerobic treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater with high salinity. Bioresource Technology. 153, 79–86.
Srimachai, T., Imai, T., and Rattanadilok Na Phuket, K. (2024). Biogas and Biohythane Production from Anaerobic Codigestion of Canned Sardine Wastewater with Glycerol Waste. Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports. 27(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.55164/ajstr.v27i2.249551.
Val del Rio, A., Pichel, A., Fernandez-Gonzalez, N., Pedrouso, A., Fra-Vázquez, A., Morales, N., Mendez, R., Campos, J. L., and Mosquera-Corral, A. (2018). Performance and microbial features of the partial nitritation-anammox process treating fish canning wastewater with variable salt concentrations. Journal of Environmental Management. 208, 112–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.12.007.