Dual-purpose shrimp-pond effluent treatment and biomass production for biodiesel using Desmodesmus sp

Cao Thu Thuy; Trinh, Ngoc Nam; Vasel, Jean-Luc; Remacle, Claire; Le, Hung Anh; Eppe, Gauthier

doi:10.1016/j.envc.2025.101273

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Dual-purpose shrimp-pond effluent treatment and biomass production for biodiesel using Desmodesmus sp

Cao Thu Thuy; Trinh, Ngoc Nam; Vasel, Jean-Luc et al.

2025 • In Environmental Challenges, 20, p. 101273

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10.1016/j.envc.2025.101273

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Keywords :

Shrimp farming; Desmodesmus sp.; Biomass; High-rate algal pond; Wastewater treatment; Biodiesel

Abstract :

[en] Intensive shrimp farming in Vietnam’s coastal regions generates significant organic and nutrient pollution. This study optimizes Desmodesmus sp. cultivation for treating shrimp-pond wastewater and producing biodiesel in tropical conditions. Microalgae were cultivated in 4 L photobioreactors with 2–10% (v/v) shrimp-pond sludge, identifying 6% as the optimal concentration (growth rate: 0.378 day⁻¹). In a 40 m³ high-rate algal pond (HRAP), Desmodesmus sp. achieved 90% NH4-N, 76% PO4-P, and 85% COD removal over 4 days. Biomass harvesting via Ca(OH)2 flocculation at pH 10 was cost-effective, yielding biodiesel-grade biomass with 34% oleic acid (C18:1) and 33% palmitic acid (C16:0), meeting EU and US standards. This is the first study to demonstrate efficient treatment of high-salinity (33 g L⁻¹) shrimp-pond wastewater in large-scale HRAPs, offering a scalable, low-cost solution for environmental sustainability and economic benefits in aquaculture-intensive regions like Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. However, challenges such as zooplankton proliferation and climatic variability highlight the need for robust operational strategies before broader deployment.

Disciplines :

Energy

Author, co-author :

Cao Thu Thuy ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Molecular Systems (MolSys)

Trinh, Ngoc Nam

Vasel, Jean-Luc ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement (Arlon Campus Environnement)

Remacle, Claire ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > Génétique et physiologie des microalgues

Le, Hung Anh

Eppe, Gauthier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Laboratoire de spectrométrie de masse (L.S.M.)

Language :

English

Title :

Dual-purpose shrimp-pond effluent treatment and biomass production for biodiesel using Desmodesmus sp

Publication date :

September 2025

Journal title :

Environmental Challenges

eISSN :

2667-0100

Publisher :

Elsevier

Volume :

Pages :

101273

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Development Goals :

6. Clean water and sanitation

Additional URL :

https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S2667010025001921?httpAccept=text/xml

Funders :

ARES - Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur

Funding text :

Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur (ARES-CCD, Brussels, Belgium) in the framework of the RENEWABLE project (Removal of nutrients in wastewater treatments via microalgae and biofuel/biomass production for Environmental sustainability in Vietnam, PRD 2016-2022).

Available on ORBi :

since 31 August 2025

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