Technological Advances in Effluent Treatment and Sludge Management in the Fishing Industry: systematic literature review

Abstract

In the fishing sector, specifically companies dedicated to the processing of hydrobiological resources, a variety of industrial effluents and sludges are generated, which require pretreatment before being discharged into the environment. The objective of this review is to identify and analyze the most efficient and innovative industrial wastewater treatment systems. To do so, the following methodology was carried out, initially identifying 528 original articles in SCOPUS, of which 52 of them met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that there was a significant increase in research on industrial effluent treatments during the years 2021 and 2022, with studies carried out in countries on all continents. Most of the research focused on the implementation of membrane bioreactors (MBR), both aerobic and anaerobic, combined with advanced membrane separation techniques, such as ultrafiltration and nanofiltration (NF). Effluent characterization and monitoring of parameters such as pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, COD, BOD5, total suspended solids (TSS), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (TP) and nitrates (NO3-) were essential to assess the quality of treated water. Finally, it was concluded that advanced industrial wastewater treatment methods, especially those combining biological processes and membrane separation techniques, are highly effective. The implementation of these technologies, together with continuous monitoring and adequate sludge management, serves to improve water quality and promote environmental sustainability in the industrial sector.