Zubair Hashmi, Ibrahim Maina Idriss, Rieza Zulrian Aldio, Nur Aqidah Donglah, Juliana Zaini, Yusuf Wibisono, Muhammad Roil Bilad
Aquaculture growth intensifies challenges related to nutrient discharge, water use, and energy demand. This study evaluated three systems: traditional, batchwise wastewater treatment, and a membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) integrated recirculating aquaculture system, using environmental, economic, and technical metrics. The MPBR achieved the highest overall performance, with 87 % nitrate, 76 % phosphate, 82 % COD removal, 90 % water reuse, and the lowest water footprint (16.3 L/kg fish). At a 10-reactor scale, it produced 39.3 kg fish and 1.91 kg algal biomass annually, generating $577.46/year revenue and optimizing land use (0.243 m2/kg biomass). Integrating solar illumination eliminated lighting costs, reduced net CO₂ emissions by 1.68 %, and energy use by 1.7 %. Price elasticities were not uniformly low: MPBR/batchwise were resilient to fish price shocks (0.22–0.34) and moderately sensitive to algae price (0.66–0.78), whereas the traditional system remained highly fish-price sensitive (1.00); electricity and feed sensitivities were low (≈0.16, ≈0.03), with labor costs the principal vulnerability (≈0.8–0.92). Despite higher energy demand, the MPBR excelled in yield, resource recovery, and sustainability, offering a scalable solution aligned with circular bioeconomy and food–energy–water security goals. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
Faculty of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE 1410, Brunei Darussalam; Bioprocess Engineering, University of Brawijaya, Jl. Veteran, Ketawanggede, Kec. Lowokwaru, Jawa Timur, Kota Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Faculty of Applied Science and Education, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Jl. Pemuda No 59A, Mataram, 83126, Indonesia
