http://www.revistadechimie.ro REV.CHIM.(Bucharest)♦68♦No. 12 ♦2017 2752 Technological Solution for the Treatment of Wastewater Resulting from Autochthonous Aquacultures in Order to Protect the Marine Water Quality CARMEN TOCIU 1 *, TANIA ZAHARIA 2 , ELENA DIACU 3 , CRISTINA MARIA 1 , FLORICA MARINESCU 1 , MIHAELA ILIE 1 1 National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection, 294 Splaiul Independentei , 060031, Bucharest 2 National Institute for Marine Research and Development Grigore Antipa, 300 Mamaia Blvd., 900581, Constanat 3 University Politehnica of Bucharest, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, 1 Polizu Str., 011061, Bucharest This paper depicts the research conducted at a micro-pilot scale on autochthonous cultures in order to develop adequate technological solutions for the treatment of wastewater resulting from shrimp cultures (Palaemonidae) that would ensure the protection of the Black Sea ecosystem and constitute an applicable tool for the development of aquaculture in Romania. The proposed objectives were attained by adopting an integrated system of marine cultures shrimps-mussels-macrophyte algae, followed by a conventional chemical treatment step using aluminium sulphate recovered from metallurgical slags. This system together with wastewater treatment ensures an optimum development of species and a minimum load of pollutants in the aquatic environment. Key words: aluminium sulphate, aquaculture, shrimp (Palaemonidae), wastewater treatment Decapod were subjected to observation and research since ancient times. Although they are consumed on the Romanian seashore by the connoisseurs, they have not been the subject of specialised fishing and were more often captured accidentally. Lately, an increased interest in the exploitation of the natural stocks of shrimps has been observed among foreign investors. In this case, the mariculture may decrease the anthropic pressure exerted on the crustaceans by the fishing activities and may ensure a continuity for market supply. One of the most important aquaculture resources is water, and its effective management is becoming an increasingly central issue in development and on environmental friendliness. The exploitation of shrimps growth ponds includes the systematic refreshment of water as well as water discharge for harvesting the shrimps (Figure 1) [1,2]. Shrimps growth is dependent on the food available in the pond and the the quality of the feed water [3-6]. In case of insufficient food, an additional fertilization based on urea and superphosphate is employed in order to maintain the growth of the phytoplankton followed by formulated food. Food residues and metabolites end up on the bottom of the pond where they may suffer anaerobic fermentation and may lead to water acidification; therefore neutralisation with calcium carbonate is employed. Marine aquaculture generates wastewater significantly polluted wastewater that may affect the health of the culture and curing measures (use of antibiotics, disinfecting * email: tociucarmen@yahoo.com; Phone: (+ 40)213052675 substances, anaesthetics) are undertaken, often with negative effects on the shrimp’s quality [7,8]. Contrariwise, the significant volumes of generated wastewater and its highly diversified content (organic and inorganic substances, suspended matter, nutrients etc.) lead to problems related to the impact on the environment (persistent odour, toxic substances, microbial communities etc.); thus the development of an adequate wastewater treatment technology is required as an assurance for the protection of the marine ecosystem and human health [9,10]. Research on the minimisation of pollutant concentration in the effluent are conducted worldwide and physical, chemical and biological methods are employed. However, a unitary technology has not been developed so far. Available literature data show that high salinity affects negatively the rate of the gravitational sedimentation of suspended matter and the aerobic biological treatment using activated sludge. The techniques used for the treatment of wastewater resulting from shrimp cultures are various and may be grouped as follows: separation of suspended matter using sedimentation pond, natural treatment using wetlands, bioremediation using integrated aquaculture systems [11, 12]. This paper shows the results of the research conducted on the development of a technological solution for the treatment of wastewater resulting from a culture of autochthonous shrimp species ( Palaemon elegans ). A Fig. 1. Material flux in a shrimp’s growth process