Aquaculture Activated Carbon
Activated carbon is vital in aquaculture water treatment systems and is primarily used in filtration components, including various fluidized bed filters, canister filters, and dedicated contact chambers. Activated carbon has a highly porous structure that primarily works by adsorption to remove a wide spectrum of dissolved organic pollutants, tannins (the agent for yellow discolouration), unpleasant odours, and residual medications (such as antibiotics or dyes) from the water column. The purification of the water column is important to maintain optimum water quality, clarity, and a healthful environment for optimal production of fish and shellfish. Activated carbon mainly aids in, decreasing stress, limiting the potential for toxin build up, and improving the general hygienic state of the water, thereby improving the welfare of the aquatic organism. Activated carbon is particularly useful in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), where water reuse is intense, and in cases of needing to remove a medication, and to treating the water from organic-stained water. All spent activated carbon must be replaced regularly because, as tetrads of specific adsorption sites become full, the effectiveness of the activated carbon decreases.
Industry Challenges
Environmental and Production Constraints
- Tightening regulations on manufacturing emissions
- Sustainable sourcing difficulties for raw materials
- Supply chain instability affecting quality consistency
Technical Performance Limitations
- Non-selective adsorption of beneficial nutrients
- Rapid saturation in nutrient-rich water requiring frequent replacement
- Temperature-dependent efficiency fluctuations
- Clogging issues in filtration systems
Operational Integration Challenges
- Complex monitoring requirements for water parameters
- Poor system integration causing inefficiencies
- Difficulty balancing toxin removal with ecosystem preservation
Innovation and Standardization Gaps
- Fragmented industry with limited R&D capabilities
- Slow development of specialized bio-enhanced variants - Lack of uniform performance benchmarks
- Lack of uniform performance benchmarks
- Insufficient real-world validation data
related types of activated carbon
- Iodine Value: 600-1200
- Mesh Size: 1×4/4×8/8×16/8×30/12×40/20×40/20×50/30×60/40×70 (More size on request)
- Apparent Density: 400-700
- Iodine Value: 500-1300
- Mesh Size:0.9-1mm/1.5-2mm/3-4mm/6mm/8mm(More size on request)
- Apparent Density: 450-600
- Iodine Value: 500-1300
- Mesh Size: 150/200/300/350 (More size on request)
- Apparent Density: 450 – 550
- Iodine Value: 400-800
- Mesh Size: 100×100×100mm/100×100×50mm (Custom cell density on request)
- Apparent Density: 350-450
- Bore Diameter：1.5-8mm
- Iodine Value: 700-1200 mg/g
- Surface Area: 700-1200 m²/g
- Apparent Density: 320-550 kg/m³
- Iodine Value: 700-1200 mg/g
- Surface Area: 700-1200 m²/g
- Apparent Density: 320-550 kg/m³
- Iodine Value: 700-1200 mg/g
- Surface Area: 700-1200 m²/g
- Apparent Density: 300-650 kg/m³
- Iodine Value: 700-1200 mg/g
- Surface Area: 700-1200 m²/g
- Apparent Density: 320-550 kg/m³
- Activation Method: Steam/gas activation at high temperatures
- Pore Structure: Microporous-dominated, uniform pore distribution
- Environmental Profile: Chemical-free, low ash content
- Primary Applications: Gas-phase adsorption, drinking water purification
- Activation Method: Chemical activation (e.g., H₃PO₄/ZnCl₂) at moderate temperatures
- Pore Structure: Mesoporous-rich, higher surface area
- Process Efficiency: Shorter activation time, 30-50% higher yield
- Post-Treatment: Acid-washing required to remove residues
- Functionalization: Loaded with active agents (e.g., I₂/Ag/KOH)
- Targeted Adsorption: Enhanced capture of specific pollutants (e.g., Hg⁰/H₂S/acid gases)
- Customization: Chemically optimized for target contaminants
- Core Applications: Industrial gas treatment, CBRN protection
Why Use Our Activated Carbon
Enhanced Adsorption Efficiency:
Our activated carbon features optimized pore structure and surface chemistry for superior removal of aquaculture-specific contaminants like ammonia, nitrites, and dissolved organics.
Eco-Friendly Material Sourcing
We utilize sustainably harvested raw materials with verified traceability to ensure minimal environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle.
Extended Operational Longevity:
Engineered for slower saturation rates and reduced clogging, our carbon maintains peak performance longer under high-load aquaculture conditions.
Common Solutions and Applications of Activated Carbon in Aquaculture
1. Wastewater Treatment in Membrane Bioreactors (MBR-PAC Systems)
Solution Overview
Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) use integrated with submerged Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) to treat salted aquaculture wastewater. The addition of PAC increases the removal of pollutants and reduces membrane fouling from salinity variability and organic loads.
Key Advantages
- Improved Pollutant Removal: Significantly boosts COD, ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), and nitrite nitrogen (NO₂⁻-N) removal efficiency compared to standalone MBR systems.
- Enhanced Membrane Performance: Reduces fouling by adsorbing soluble microbial products (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), extending membrane lifespan and maintaining stable flux.
- Salinity Resilience: Maintains treatment stability during salinity shocks by adsorbing dissolved organics and reducing protein content in sludge flocs.
- Larger Floc Formation: Promotes sludge aggregation, increasing particle size and improving solid-liquid separation.
2. Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) for Advanced Purification
Solution Overview
Biological Activated Carbon (BAC) filters are used in RAS for post-treatment after mechanical and biological filtration. Microorganisms colonize the carbon surface, enabling simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation of pollutants.
Key Advantages
- Effective Nitrogen Compound Removal: Achieves high removal rates of ammonia and nitrite through microbial degradation, meeting stringent water reuse standards.
- Water Reusability: Produces effluent suitable for recirculation, reducing freshwater dependency and minimizing environmental discharge.
- Dual Adsorption-Biodegradation: Combines physical adsorption of organics/COD with biological degradation, enhancing overall treatment efficiency.
- Adaptability to Low Loads: Efficiently treats trace pollutants even at low inlet concentrations, unlike conventional activated carbon.
3.Biofloc Technology (BFT) Carbon Source Supplementation
Solution Overview
Activated carbon serves as a carbon source in biofloc systems to adjust the carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio. This stimulates heterotrophic bacterial growth, converting toxic nitrogen compounds into microbial protein (bioflocs).
Key Advantages
- Toxin Conversion: Accelerates transformation of ammonia and nitrite into non-toxic bioflocs, improving shrimp/fish survival rates.
- Water Quality Stabilization: Reduces accumulation of harmful nitrogen compounds and maintains balanced microbial communities.
- Nutritional Supplement: Bioflocs serve as supplemental feed, enhancing growth efficiency and reducing feed costs.
- System Resilience: Mitigates water exchange requirements and supports disease resistance in intensive farming.
4. Dedicated Purification for Seafood Holding Tanks
Solution Overview
Granular activated carbon (GAC) is integrated into filtration units of seafood holding tanks (e.g., restaurants, supermarkets) to adsorb impurities and maintain water clarity during live seafood storage.
Key Advantages
- Multi-Contaminant Removal: Efficiently adsorbs residual chlorine, heavy metals, odors, and organic matter, ensuring a clean habitat.
- Extended Seafood Vitality: Preserves dissolved oxygen levels and reduces stress, prolonging seafood survival and freshness.
- Algae and Odor Control: Inhibits algal blooms and eliminates (fishy odors), enhancing visual and olfactory water quality.
- Ease of Deployment: Simple installation in filter bags/cartridges with minimal maintenance.
5. Emergency Water Quality Management
Solution Overview
Activated carbon is used as a short-term intervention to adsorb sudden surges of organic pollutants, medications (e.g., antibiotics), or toxins during water quality crises.
Key Advantages
- Rapid Contaminant Adsorption: Quickly binds organic toxins, residual drugs, and hydrogen sulfide, preventing acute toxicity.
- Water Clarity Restoration: Removes turbidity and discoloration caused by dissolved organics or algal byproducts.
- Non-Disruptive Application: Compatible with existing systems without altering water chemistry parameters like pH.
- Temporary Nitrification Support: Lowers carbon-to-nitrogen ratio to aid (nitrification) system recovery during imbalances.
