Circularity Between Aquaponics and Anaerobic Digestion for Energy Generation

Aquaponics integrates aquaculture and hydroponics, promoting circularity through the recirculation of water and nutrients. However, waste management remains a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the anaerobic digestion (AD) of aquaponic effluent (AE) combined with cattle manure (CM) for biogas p...

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Main Authors: Juliana Lobo Paes, Cirlene Gomes Guimarães, Alexia de Sousa Gomes, Romulo Cardoso Valadão, Daiane Cecchin, Regina Menino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:AgriEngineering
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/5/129
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author Juliana Lobo Paes
Cirlene Gomes Guimarães
Alexia de Sousa Gomes
Romulo Cardoso Valadão
Daiane Cecchin
Regina Menino
author_facet Juliana Lobo Paes
Cirlene Gomes Guimarães
Alexia de Sousa Gomes
Romulo Cardoso Valadão
Daiane Cecchin
Regina Menino
author_sort Juliana Lobo Paes
collection DOAJ
description Aquaponics integrates aquaculture and hydroponics, promoting circularity through the recirculation of water and nutrients. However, waste management remains a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the anaerobic digestion (AD) of aquaponic effluent (AE) combined with cattle manure (CM) for biogas production. An Indian model biodigester was fed with AE, CM and 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1 W (Water):CM, under anaerobic mono-digestion (MoAD) and 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1 AE:CM under anaerobic co-digestion (CoAD) conditions. The chemical characteristics of the substrates and digestates were assessed, as well as the potential for biogas production over 19 weeks. Overall, CoAD provided better results regarding the chemical characterization of the substrates aimed at biogas production. Notably, the 1:3 AE:CM ratio resulted in the most promising outcomes among the tested conditions. This ratio demonstrated higher efficiency, initiating biogas production by the third week and reaching the highest accumulated volume. It is probable that AE increased the dissolved organic load, optimizing the conversion of organic matter and eliminating the need for additional water in the process. Thus, the CoAD of AE and CM emerged as a promising alternative for waste valorization in aquaponics, contributing to renewable energy generation, agricultural sustainability, and the promotion of the circular economy.
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spelling doaj-art-48d003cdf7f24ee48c2143e17c12a6be2025-08-20T03:47:52ZengMDPI AGAgriEngineering2624-74022025-04-017512910.3390/agriengineering7050129Circularity Between Aquaponics and Anaerobic Digestion for Energy GenerationJuliana Lobo Paes0Cirlene Gomes Guimarães1Alexia de Sousa Gomes2Romulo Cardoso Valadão3Daiane Cecchin4Regina Menino5Graduate Program in Digital Agroenergy, Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), Palmas Campus, Palmas 77001-090, BrazilGraduate Program in Digital Agroenergy, Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), Palmas Campus, Palmas 77001-090, BrazilDepartment of Engineering, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica 23890-000, BrazilDepartment of Engineering, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica 23890-000, BrazilGraduate Program in Digital Agroenergy, Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), Palmas Campus, Palmas 77001-090, BrazilNational Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, I.P.-UEIS-SAFSV INIAV, 2780-157 Oeiras, PortugalAquaponics integrates aquaculture and hydroponics, promoting circularity through the recirculation of water and nutrients. However, waste management remains a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the anaerobic digestion (AD) of aquaponic effluent (AE) combined with cattle manure (CM) for biogas production. An Indian model biodigester was fed with AE, CM and 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1 W (Water):CM, under anaerobic mono-digestion (MoAD) and 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1 AE:CM under anaerobic co-digestion (CoAD) conditions. The chemical characteristics of the substrates and digestates were assessed, as well as the potential for biogas production over 19 weeks. Overall, CoAD provided better results regarding the chemical characterization of the substrates aimed at biogas production. Notably, the 1:3 AE:CM ratio resulted in the most promising outcomes among the tested conditions. This ratio demonstrated higher efficiency, initiating biogas production by the third week and reaching the highest accumulated volume. It is probable that AE increased the dissolved organic load, optimizing the conversion of organic matter and eliminating the need for additional water in the process. Thus, the CoAD of AE and CM emerged as a promising alternative for waste valorization in aquaponics, contributing to renewable energy generation, agricultural sustainability, and the promotion of the circular economy.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/5/129wasteanaerobic co-digestionchemical characterizationbiogas yield
spellingShingle Juliana Lobo Paes
Cirlene Gomes Guimarães
Alexia de Sousa Gomes
Romulo Cardoso Valadão
Daiane Cecchin
Regina Menino
Circularity Between Aquaponics and Anaerobic Digestion for Energy Generation
AgriEngineering
waste
anaerobic co-digestion
chemical characterization
biogas yield
title Circularity Between Aquaponics and Anaerobic Digestion for Energy Generation
title_full Circularity Between Aquaponics and Anaerobic Digestion for Energy Generation
title_fullStr Circularity Between Aquaponics and Anaerobic Digestion for Energy Generation
title_full_unstemmed Circularity Between Aquaponics and Anaerobic Digestion for Energy Generation
title_short Circularity Between Aquaponics and Anaerobic Digestion for Energy Generation
title_sort circularity between aquaponics and anaerobic digestion for energy generation
topic waste
anaerobic co-digestion
chemical characterization
biogas yield
url https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/5/129
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