Investigating the Suitability of Remineralized Aquaponics Sludge for Microalgae Culture: Biomass Production and Nutritional Composition

Murat Yeşiltaş; Mehmet Ali Turan Koçer; Faruk Pak; Özgür Aktaş; Edis Koru

Article Details

Investigating the Suitability of Remineralized Aquaponics Sludge for Microalgae Culture: Biomass Production and Nutritional Composition

Authors:

Murat Yeşiltaş | Mehmet Ali Turan Koçer | Faruk Pak | Özgür Aktaş | Edis Koru

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Ecology (Other)

Journal:

Aquatic Sciences and Engineering Vol.40 Issue 2, pp.74-93

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348975

pISSN:

2602-473X

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Microalgae are promising resources for valuable products, and cultivating them requires a suitable culture medium to optimize growth and desired biochemical content. Aquaponic sludge, a byproduct of aquaponics systems, offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional media by recycling waste and reducing environmental impact. This study aimed to compare the performance of standard BG-11 Blue-Green 11 medium with remineralized sludge-water RSW and RSW supplemented with micronutrient solution RSWMn for cultivating Chlorella minutissima, Botryococcus braunii, and Haematococcus pluvialis. The highest specific growth rate μ of 0.0970.011 was observed for C. minutissima in BG-11 medium, nearly 28 higher than in RSW medium. However, the highest dry biomass productivity Pb  of 0.0120.011 was achieved by H. pluvialis in RSWMn medium, significantly 94 higher than in RSW medium. Additionally, the volumetric productivity of biomass Qx  for H. pluvialis in RSW medium was 0.0450.017, nearly 50 higher than in BG-11 medium. The best doubling time td of 8.830.93 days was observed for H. pluvialis in RSW medium. Notably, C. minutissima cultured in RSW medium yielded the highest crude protein 55.771.81 and total lipid 4.690.88 contents. These results demonstrate that RSW medium can be tailored to achieve desired outcomes, such as optimizing growth rate or lipid content. This study highlights the potential of remineralized aquaponic sludge as a sustainable culture medium for microalgae, contributing to waste recycling and resource efficiency in aquaponics systems. Future studies should focus on optimizing RSW medium for large-scale cultivation of target microalgae species with specific biochemical profiles.

 Microalgae are promising resources for valuable products, and cultivating them requires a suitable culture medium to optimize growth and desired biochemical content. Aquaponic sludge, a byproduct of aquaponics systems, offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional media by recycling waste and reducing environmental impact. This study aimed to compare the performance of standard BG-11 Blue-Green 11 medium with remineralized sludge-water RSW and RSW supplemented with micronutrient solution RSWMn for cultivating Chlorella minutissima, Botryococcus braunii, and Haematococcus pluvialis. The highest specific growth rate μ of 0.0970.011 was observed for C. minutissima in BG-11 medium, nearly 28 higher than in RSW medium. However, the highest dry biomass productivity Pb  of 0.0120.011 was achieved by H. pluvialis in RSWMn medium, significantly 94 higher than in RSW medium. Additionally, the volumetric productivity of biomass Qx  for H. pluvialis in RSW medium was 0.0450.017, nearly 50 higher than in BG-11 medium. The best doubling time td of 8.830.93 days was observed for H. pluvialis in RSW medium. Notably, C. minutissima cultured in RSW medium yielded the highest crude protein 55.771.81 and total lipid 4.690.88 contents. These results demonstrate that RSW medium can be tailored to achieve desired outcomes, such as optimizing growth rate or lipid content. This study highlights the potential of remineralized aquaponic sludge as a sustainable culture medium for microalgae, contributing to waste recycling and resource efficiency in aquaponics systems. Future studies should focus on optimizing RSW medium for large-scale cultivation of target microalgae species with specific biochemical profiles.

 Microalgae are promising resources for valuable products, and cultivating them requires a suitable culture medium to optimize growth and desired biochemical content. Aquaponic sludge, a byproduct of aquaponics systems, offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional media by recycling waste and reducing environmental impact. This study aimed to compare the performance of standard BG-11 Blue-Green 11 medium with remineralized sludge-water RSW and RSW supplemented with micronutrient solution RSWMn for cultivating Chlorella minutissima, Botryococcus braunii, and Haematococcus pluvialis. The highest specific growth rate μ of 0.0970.011 was observed for C. minutissima in BG-11 medium, nearly 28 higher than in RSW medium. However, the highest dry biomass productivity Pb  of 0.0120.011 was achieved by H. pluvialis in RSWMn medium, significantly 94 higher than in RSW medium. Additionally, the volumetric productivity of biomass Qx  for H. pluvialis in RSW medium was 0.0450.017, nearly 50 higher than in BG-11 medium. The best doubling time td of 8.830.93 days was observed for H. pluvialis in RSW medium. Notably, C. minutissima cultured in RSW medium yielded the highest crude protein 55.771.81 and total lipid 4.690.88 contents. These results demonstrate that RSW medium can be tailored to achieve desired outcomes, such as optimizing growth rate or lipid content. This study highlights the potential of remineralized aquaponic sludge as a sustainable culture medium for microalgae, contributing to waste recycling and resource efficiency in aquaponics systems. Future studies should focus on optimizing RSW medium for large-scale cultivation of target microalgae species with specific biochemical profiles.

 Microalgae are promising resources for valuable products, and cultivating them requires a suitable culture medium to optimize growth and desired biochemical content. Aquaponic sludge, a byproduct of aquaponics systems, offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional media by recycling waste and reducing environmental impact. This study aimed to compare the performance of standard BG-11 Blue-Green 11 medium with remineralized sludge-water RSW and RSW supplemented with micronutrient solution RSWMn for cultivating Chlorella minutissima, Botryococcus braunii, and Haematococcus pluvialis. The highest specific growth rate μ of 0.0970.011 was observed for C. minutissima in BG-11 medium, nearly 28 higher than in RSW medium. However, the highest dry biomass productivity Pb  of 0.0120.011 was achieved by H. pluvialis in RSWMn medium, significantly 94 higher than in RSW medium. Additionally, the volumetric productivity of biomass Qx  for H. pluvialis in RSW medium was 0.0450.017, nearly 50 higher than in BG-11 medium. The best doubling time td of 8.830.93 days was observed for H. pluvialis in RSW medium. Notably, C. minutissima cultured in RSW medium yielded the highest crude protein 55.771.81 and total lipid 4.690.88 contents. These results demonstrate that RSW medium can be tailored to achieve desired outcomes, such as optimizing growth rate or lipid content. This study highlights the potential of remineralized aquaponic sludge as a sustainable culture medium for microalgae, contributing to waste recycling and resource efficiency in aquaponics systems. Future studies should focus on optimizing RSW medium for large-scale cultivation of target microalgae species with specific biochemical profiles.

Article Details

Investigating the Suitability of Remineralized Aquaponics Sludge for Microalgae Culture: Biomass Production and Nutritional Composition

Authors:

Murat Yeşiltaş | Mehmet Ali Turan Koçer | Faruk Pak | Özgür Aktaş | Edis Koru

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Ecology (Other)

Journal:

Aquatic Sciences and Engineering Vol.40 Issue 2, pp.74-93

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348975

pISSN:

2602-473X

Microalgae

aquaculture

wastewater

recirculating aquaculture system

sustainability

waste recycling

Issues

Article Details

Investigating the Suitability of Remineralized Aquaponics Sludge for Microalgae Culture: Biomass Production and Nutritional Composition

Authors: Murat Yeşiltaş | Mehmet Ali Turan Koçer | Faruk Pak | Özgür Aktaş | Edis Koru

Publisher: Istanbul University

Main Topics: Ecology (Other)

Journal: Aquatic Sciences and Engineering Vol.40 Issue 2, pp.74-93

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 4/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001348975

pISSN: 2602-473X

Microalgae

aquaculture

wastewater

recirculating aquaculture system

sustainability

waste recycling

Issues

Authors:

Murat Yeşiltaş | Mehmet Ali Turan Koçer | Faruk Pak | Özgür Aktaş | Edis Koru

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Ecology (Other)

Journal:

Aquatic Sciences and Engineering Vol.40 Issue 2, pp.74-93

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348975

pISSN:

2602-473X