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Title: Nitrifying bioreactor technology
Organization:Oriental Aquamarine Biotech (India) P Ltd
Year:2014

Recirculating aquaculture systems are closed-loop production systems that continuously filter and recycle water, enabling large-scale fish farming that requires a small amount of water and releases little or no pollution.

Oriental Aquamarine Biotech (India) P Ltd offers a patented Nitrifying Bioreactor Technology for the establishment of recirculating aquaculture systems. Scientists at the National Centre for Acquatic Animal Health, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi developed the technology with funding from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

The Nitrifying Bioreactors continuously and effectively transform ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate, and further to elemental nitrogen and bring down their residual levels near to zero.

Figure. Water quality in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems for larval production


Outcome/Benefits: Closed Recirculating Aquaculture Systems fitted with the nitrifying bioreactor actively control water quality and help maintain reef oligotrophic water condition for optimum growth and development of various aquatic species. Benefits of the technology include reduced stress on aquatic animals resulting in increase in fish survival rate; aquaculture farms need not be located close to oceans and water bodies leading to reduction in production and running cots; improvement in surrounding environment and reduced waste generation; and no requirement of antibiotics and chemotherapeutics.

Commercially tested: Yes

Patent Details: The Nitrifying Bioreactor Technology has been patented in India (Patent no. 241648) The Nitrifying Bioreactor Technology has also been patented in other countries like Thailand, Japan, Philippines, South Korea and Indonesia etc. as well as under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) with international publication no: WO 02/30835 A1.

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