METHODS TO

REMOVE
DISSOLVED AND
COLLOIDAL
ORGANIC MATTER

By: Ma. Ariela Mae V. Rimbao

Solids are present in water in three main forms:
suspended particles, colloids and dissolved molecules.
Suspended particles, such as sand, vegetable matter and
silts, range in size from very large particles down to
particles with a typical dimension of 10 µm. Colloids are
very fine particles, typically ranging from 10 nm
to 10 µm. Dissolved molecules are present as individual
molecules or as ions.
 In general, suspended particles are simply removed by
conventional physical treatment like sedimentation and
filtration. Dissolved molecules cannot be removed by
conventional physical treatment. Thus, the removal of colloids is
the main objective and the most difficult aspect in conventional
water treatment.
There are two types of colloids: hydrophilic colloids and
hydrophobic colloids. Hydrophobic colloids, including clay and non-
hydrated metal oxides, are unstable. The colloids are easily
destabilized. Hydrophilic colloids like soap are stable. When these
colloids are mixed with water, they form colloidal solutions that
are not easily destabilized.
These are the several processes to remove
dissolved and colloidal organic matter from water:
• Coagulation
• Ozonation
• Foam Fractionation,
• Activated Carbon Adsorption
COAGULATION

Silt particles are small enough to remain in colloidal suspension that

cannot removed by sedimentation. The process of coagulation is used to
remove colloidal particles from water.
The process of consolidation of colloidal particles, terminating in
precipitation of the substances removed from the treated water by
settling or filtration is called coagulation.
 The reverse process of coagulation i.e. conversion of a
solid into a colloidal state, is called peptization. Reagents
that are able to provoke coagulation of natural colloids in
water are coagulants. Few examples of coagulants are ferrous
sulphate (FeSO4.7H2O), aluminium sulphate
[Al2(SO4)3.18H2O] and ferric chloride (FeCl3).
OZONATION
Ozonation Systems are widely used in aquaculture for water
conditioning that improves the health of marine animals. Conventional
means of solids removal, such as sponge/ perlon floss filters and sand
filters address the removal of coarse settleable and filterable solids,
but not the removal of fine colloidal solids. Similarly, nitrifying
bacteria in bio-filters remove dissolved ammonia and nitrite, but not
all dissolved organic wastes. As an aquarium matures, the
accumulation of dissolved organic colloidal solids increases.
This organic buildup decreases the performance of the nitrifying bacteria
that convert nitrite to nitrate, thus causing harming nitrite buildup.
The biochemical oxygen demand also rises, so the oxygen levels decrease
over time. These shifts in water parameters stress the aquarium
inhabitants and may even cause mortality. To reduce the necessity of
large water changes, that can change the systems chemical parameters
(PH, salinity, alkalinity etc.), there is a very efficient alternative
method of breaking down these organic wastes using a strong oxidizing
agent Ozone.
 Ozonated water is widely employed at
aquariums, sea parks and zoos, where it safely
removes disease causing microbes or fungus without
using harsh and increasingly regulated chemicals that
may form harmful byproducts.
Use of ozone in aquaculture water treatment serves the following purposes:
• Removal Of Fine And Colloidal Solids
A fine and colloidal solids consist of particles 1-30 microns (mm) and
0.001 (mm) respectively. The small size of the particles enables the solids
to remain in suspension and avoid most mechanical methods of separation.
The accumulation of fine and colloidal solids can impair bio-filter nitrification
efficiencies and stress fish stocks
Ozone removes fine and colloidal solids by causing clumping of the solids
(microflocculation), which facilitates removal by foam-fractionation,
filtration and sedimentation.
• Removal Of Dissolved Organic Compounds
Dissolved organic compounds or refractory organics, give
the water a characteristic tea-colored stain. Dissolved organic
compounds are non-biodegradable and accumulate according to
feed input, water exchange rate and the rate of solids removal.
High levels of Dissolved organic compounds can stress fish and
reduce nitrification efficiencies of the bio-filter. Ozone removes
dissolved organic compounds by Oxidation into products that are
more readily nitrified.
• Removal Of Nitrite
Nitrite can accumulate as production intensifies and organic
loadings increase. Bacteria that process ammonia into nitrite
(Nitrosomonas spp) operates more efficiently under high organic
loadings than bacteria that process nitrite to nitrate (Nitrobacter)
and levels of nitrite rise accordingly. High levels of nitrite can be
toxic to fish. Data available for silver perch, bidyanus bidyanus
indicates levels of nitrite as low as 2.8 parts per million (ppm) can
reduce growth of fingerlings by 5%.
• Disinfection
The high stocking densities, associated fish stress and
increased nutrient loads found in RAS create an ideal environment
for fish pathogens. An important step in reducing the risk of
disease outbreaks in RAS is the use of standard quarantine
procedures for any fish introduced. Facilities using surface waters,
including RAS and flow through hatchery systems, are also
interested in reducing the pathogens load introduced via the
source of water. The disinfection of effluent waters introduction
to the environment is also crucial to prevent the translocation of
exotic diseases.
 Ozone can effectively inactivate a range of bacterial, viral,
fungal and protozoan fish pathogens. The effectiveness of Ozone
treatment depends on ozone concentration, length of ozone
exposure (contact time), pathogen loads and levels of organic
matter. If high levels of organic matter are present, the demand
created by oxidizing the organic matter can make it difficult to
maintain enough residual ozone for effective disinfection.
OZONATION IN
RECIRCULATING
AQUACULTURE
SYSTEMS
Advantages Of Using Ozone In Aquaculture Environment
• Ozonation oxygenates the water, reducing odor and increasing clarity,
providing more aesthetically pleasing experience.
• Ozone needs only a short span contact time, typically 10 to 30 minutes.
After use, the ozone decomposes back to oxygen, leaving no harmful residue.
• Ozone is safe-it has been certified organic and has been approved by the FDA
and USDA as food contact substance. The EPA does not require any record-
keeping or reporting of ozone use
• Use of Ozone improves water quality, accelerates the growth rate and
eliminates water-borne bacteria and viruses.
• Ozone saves water by reducing the need to draw down exhibit water to
remove solids.
FOAM FRACTIONATION
Foam fractionation is one alternative for purifying water in closed cycle
aquacultural systems. The concentration and removal of proteins, enzymes and other
dissolved organic materials are examples of foam fractionation application.

Foam fractionation is an efficient, cost-effective way to remove small particles

and dissolved organic wastes from water while at the same time increasing dissolved
oxygen levels.
 The Foam fractionator mixes air and water together through
the Airmaster aquafoil. As the air bubbles travel upward through the
water column, they collect dissolved, and small organic waste particles
on their bubble walls. These bubbles create foam that accumulates at
the top of the column, and develops up through the foam tube. As
the foam accumulates it eventually falls out of the foam tube in to
the foam collection cup, separating from the water inside the vessel.
Several names have been given to this form of filtration such as
protein skimming, protein stripping, or foam fractionation.
 Foam fractionation offers several important benefits that
improve water clarity and increase dissolved oxygen levels. This
mode of filtration separates harmful dissolved organic waste from
water before the biological filtering process takes place, reducing
the load on the biological filter. By removing dissolved organic
waste traditional large water changes are reduced lowering water
and salt costs.
Recommended Applications
• Large aquatic mammal exhibits
• Aquatic bird exhibits
• Coldwater and tropical fish exhibits
• Reptile exhibits
• Aquatic wholesale holding systems
• Aquaculture grow-out recirculating systems
Activated Carbon Adsorption
`Granular activated carbon is a well-established medium for the
adsorption of dissolved organic substances associated with these issues.
The selection of activated carbon for aquaria and aquaculture is not
well established due to innate heterogeneity of these waters. The
means to completely characterize adsorption between carbon sources
are generally not available to end users provided their level of expertise
and/or resources at their disposal. This study introduces a relatively
simple method for characterizing activated carbon quality and filter
performance utilizing readily available and relatively safe indicator
compounds to test adsorptive capabilities between different sources of
granular activated carbon.
 Methylene blue and a commercial mix of humic and tannic
substances were used to comparatively test adsorptive performance
between two filter groups (i.e., sources of granular activated carbon)
by tracking spectral absorbance with nonlinear regression statistics
and validating removal trends against mature aquaculture water.
Greater adsorptive capacities were consistently observed in one filter
group throughout the indicator testing battery. Similar findings were
observed between the two indicator tests, thereby confirming the
method. This method can be adopted by commercial aquaculture
operations or aquarists to assist in comparatively screening particular
types, particle sizes, and sources of granular activated carbon for
specific water quality and engineering requirements.