Exploring carbon sources in biofloc technology for enhanced aquaculture and environmental sustainability
Abstract Aquaculture has prides itself as the perfect substitute for capture fisheries, broadening the prospects of meeting the global seafood demand that has reached worrisome limits today. Nevertheless, numerous challenges including water quality and disease management have consistently threatened...
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| Format: | Article |
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Springer
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Discover Food |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00495-3 |
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| author | Benedict Terkula Iber Donald Torsabo Amyra Suryatie Kamaruzzan Mohd Nazli Mohd Nor Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah Muhammad Shukri Shafie Hidayah Manan Mhd Ikhwanuddin Abdullah Nor Azman Kasan |
| author_facet | Benedict Terkula Iber Donald Torsabo Amyra Suryatie Kamaruzzan Mohd Nazli Mohd Nor Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah Muhammad Shukri Shafie Hidayah Manan Mhd Ikhwanuddin Abdullah Nor Azman Kasan |
| author_sort | Benedict Terkula Iber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Aquaculture has prides itself as the perfect substitute for capture fisheries, broadening the prospects of meeting the global seafood demand that has reached worrisome limits today. Nevertheless, numerous challenges including water quality and disease management have consistently threatened its sustainability. Biofloc technology (BFT) is an innovative approach that enhances aquaculture sustainability by improving nutrient recycling, reduced water utilization, water quality enhancement and organic waste management. The system relies on the cultivation of microbial communities that convert organic wastes like uneaten feed and excreta into valuable biomass, serving as supplementary feed for aquatic species. BFT reduces dependence on external feed inputs as well as provides significant economic and environmental benefits. Studies have shown the efficacy of BFT towards improving feed conversion ratios (FCR) and growth performance in many fish species including shrimps and tilapia. This review emphasized the dual nature of suspended organic matter (SOM) as a substrate for microbial proliferation and nutrient source for culture species. The carbon sources in BFT are grouped as traditional (molasses, sugarcane by-products, starch and flour) and alternative/innovative (agricultural by-products, processed organic waste, glycerol and sucrose) sources. The success of BFT is centred on maintenance of optimal carbon-to-nitrogen (C: N) ratio. Many studies recommend ratio of between 10:1 and 20:1 for improved multiplication of heterotrophic bacteria that degrade nitrogenous waste. Excess accumulation of SOM leads to high biological oxygen demand. In the present study, Advance sludge management, real-time monitoring and alternatives carbon sources are discussed as critical enablers of BFT optimization. It synthesizes recent advancements into microbial dynamics, environmental and policy frameworks necessary for biofloc aquaculture sustainability and environmental management. Graphical Abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9f70b89d216e4c3ead9eb425766de017 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-4286 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Food |
| spelling | doaj-art-9f70b89d216e4c3ead9eb425766de0172025-08-20T04:01:35ZengSpringerDiscover Food2731-42862025-07-015111810.1007/s44187-025-00495-3Exploring carbon sources in biofloc technology for enhanced aquaculture and environmental sustainabilityBenedict Terkula Iber0Donald Torsabo1Amyra Suryatie Kamaruzzan2Mohd Nazli Mohd Nor3Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah4Muhammad Shukri Shafie5Hidayah Manan6Mhd Ikhwanuddin Abdullah7Nor Azman Kasan8Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia TerengganuHigher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia TerengganuHigher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia TerengganuHigher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia TerengganuDepartment of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan MalaysiaSERANDU AQUAPONIC SYSTEM SDN. BHD.Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia TerengganuHigher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia TerengganuHigher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia TerengganuAbstract Aquaculture has prides itself as the perfect substitute for capture fisheries, broadening the prospects of meeting the global seafood demand that has reached worrisome limits today. Nevertheless, numerous challenges including water quality and disease management have consistently threatened its sustainability. Biofloc technology (BFT) is an innovative approach that enhances aquaculture sustainability by improving nutrient recycling, reduced water utilization, water quality enhancement and organic waste management. The system relies on the cultivation of microbial communities that convert organic wastes like uneaten feed and excreta into valuable biomass, serving as supplementary feed for aquatic species. BFT reduces dependence on external feed inputs as well as provides significant economic and environmental benefits. Studies have shown the efficacy of BFT towards improving feed conversion ratios (FCR) and growth performance in many fish species including shrimps and tilapia. This review emphasized the dual nature of suspended organic matter (SOM) as a substrate for microbial proliferation and nutrient source for culture species. The carbon sources in BFT are grouped as traditional (molasses, sugarcane by-products, starch and flour) and alternative/innovative (agricultural by-products, processed organic waste, glycerol and sucrose) sources. The success of BFT is centred on maintenance of optimal carbon-to-nitrogen (C: N) ratio. Many studies recommend ratio of between 10:1 and 20:1 for improved multiplication of heterotrophic bacteria that degrade nitrogenous waste. Excess accumulation of SOM leads to high biological oxygen demand. In the present study, Advance sludge management, real-time monitoring and alternatives carbon sources are discussed as critical enablers of BFT optimization. It synthesizes recent advancements into microbial dynamics, environmental and policy frameworks necessary for biofloc aquaculture sustainability and environmental management. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00495-3MicroorganismsNitrogenNutrient cyclingSuspended organic matterWater quality |
| spellingShingle | Benedict Terkula Iber Donald Torsabo Amyra Suryatie Kamaruzzan Mohd Nazli Mohd Nor Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah Muhammad Shukri Shafie Hidayah Manan Mhd Ikhwanuddin Abdullah Nor Azman Kasan Exploring carbon sources in biofloc technology for enhanced aquaculture and environmental sustainability Discover Food Microorganisms Nitrogen Nutrient cycling Suspended organic matter Water quality |
| title | Exploring carbon sources in biofloc technology for enhanced aquaculture and environmental sustainability |
| title_full | Exploring carbon sources in biofloc technology for enhanced aquaculture and environmental sustainability |
| title_fullStr | Exploring carbon sources in biofloc technology for enhanced aquaculture and environmental sustainability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring carbon sources in biofloc technology for enhanced aquaculture and environmental sustainability |
| title_short | Exploring carbon sources in biofloc technology for enhanced aquaculture and environmental sustainability |
| title_sort | exploring carbon sources in biofloc technology for enhanced aquaculture and environmental sustainability |
| topic | Microorganisms Nitrogen Nutrient cycling Suspended organic matter Water quality |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00495-3 |
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