Engineering analysis of the stoichiometry of photoautotrophic, autotrophic, and heterotrophic removal of ammonia–nitrogen in aquaculture systems

In intensive aquaculture systems, ammonia–nitrogen buildup from the metabolism of feed is usually the second limiting factor to increase production levels after dissolved oxygen. The three nitrogen conversion pathways traditionally used for the removal of ammonia–nitrogen in aquaculture systems are photoautotrophic removal by algae, autotrophic bacterial conversion of ammonia–nitrogen to nitrate–nitrogen, and heterotrophic bacterial conversion of ammonia–nitrogen directly to microbial biomass. Traditionally, pond aquaculture has used photoautotrophic algae based systems to control inorganic nitrogen buildup. Currently, the primary strategy in intensive recirculating production systems for controlling…