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Sustainability
Volume 18
Issue 14
10.3390/su18147333
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Article

Photo-Electrocatalysis to Mitigate the Environmental Impact of Nitrogen Compound Pollution in the Water and into the Atmosphere in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems for Trout

by
Eleonora Buoio
1,
Luca Maistrello
2,
Simone Livolsi
2,
Alessia Di Giancamillo
3,
Lucia Aidos
1,
Giorgio Mirra
3,
Chiara Bazzocchi
1,
Raffaella Rossi
1,
Daniela Bertotto
4,
Giuseppe Radaelli
4,
Nadia Cherif
5,
Tarek Temraz
6,
Gian Luca Chiarello
2,* and
Annamaria Costa
1,*
1
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
2
Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy
3
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli, 31, 20133 Milano, Italy
4
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
5
Aquaculture Laboratory, National Institute of Sea Sciences and Technologies, 28 Rue de 2 Mars 1934, Salamboo 2025, Tunisia
6
Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2026, 18(14), 7333; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18147333 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 6 May 2026 / Revised: 2 July 2026 / Accepted: 14 July 2026 / Published: 17 July 2026
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Abstract

Aquaculture has rapidly expanded, surpassing capture fisheries and playing a vital role in global food security. However, this growth raises environmental concerns, especially regarding nitrogen waste accumulation in recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs). Nitrogen compounds from uneaten feed and fish excreta, mainly ammonia (NH3) and nitrite (NO2−), lead to water pollution, eutrophication, and greenhouse gas emissions. This study describes the setup and the efficiency of a new photo-electrocatalytic (PEC) system in reducing nitrogen waste in a high-density RAS for rainbow trout (30 kg/m3). The PEC system, an evolution of a pure photocatalytic system, was integrated in the units of the RAS and tested for the first time in field conditions, combining photocatalysis and electrochemical oxidation to convert toxic nitrogen species (NH3) into less harmful nitrogen forms (NO3− and N2), aiming to mitigate both water and atmospheric pollution. Over a 4-week period, water nitrogen compounds, ammonia and greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane) emitted by water were continuously monitored in two groups of three tanks (PEC vs. control). Each tank was equipped as an independent RAS unit. PEC treatment led to significantly lower NH3 concentrations (0.96 ± 0.2 mg/L vs. 1.78 ± 0.2 mg/L, p < 0.01), lower NO2− levels and higher NO3− levels (61.77 ± 2.14 mg/L vs. 53.10 ± 2.14 mg/L, p < 0.01) in water, indicating efficient nitrogen oxidation. Gaseous emissions were also reduced: NH3 (1.49 vs. 2.64 mg/m2/day, p < 0.05) and N2O (1.44 vs. 2.88 mg/m2/day, p < 0.05). These results support PEC technology as a promising solution for improving nitrogen management in intensive aquaculture. Although challenges remain in optimizing energy use and scalability, PEC offers a valuable strategy for reducing environmental impact while sustaining productivity in the aquaculture industry.
Keywords: aquaculture; RAS; trout; photo-electrocatalysis (PEC); nitrogen compounds; nitrogen compound mitigation; ammonia emissions; greenhouse gases emissions aquaculture; RAS; trout; photo-electrocatalysis (PEC); nitrogen compounds; nitrogen compound mitigation; ammonia emissions; greenhouse gases emissions
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MDPI and ACS Style

Buoio, E.; Maistrello, L.; Livolsi, S.; Di Giancamillo, A.; Aidos, L.; Mirra, G.; Bazzocchi, C.; Rossi, R.; Bertotto, D.; Radaelli, G.; et al. Photo-Electrocatalysis to Mitigate the Environmental Impact of Nitrogen Compound Pollution in the Water and into the Atmosphere in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems for Trout. Sustainability 2026, 18, 7333. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18147333

AMA Style

Buoio E, Maistrello L, Livolsi S, Di Giancamillo A, Aidos L, Mirra G, Bazzocchi C, Rossi R, Bertotto D, Radaelli G, et al. Photo-Electrocatalysis to Mitigate the Environmental Impact of Nitrogen Compound Pollution in the Water and into the Atmosphere in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems for Trout. Sustainability. 2026; 18(14):7333. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18147333

Chicago/Turabian Style

Buoio, Eleonora, Luca Maistrello, Simone Livolsi, Alessia Di Giancamillo, Lucia Aidos, Giorgio Mirra, Chiara Bazzocchi, Raffaella Rossi, Daniela Bertotto, Giuseppe Radaelli, and et al. 2026. "Photo-Electrocatalysis to Mitigate the Environmental Impact of Nitrogen Compound Pollution in the Water and into the Atmosphere in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems for Trout" Sustainability 18, no. 14: 7333. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18147333

APA Style

Buoio, E., Maistrello, L., Livolsi, S., Di Giancamillo, A., Aidos, L., Mirra, G., Bazzocchi, C., Rossi, R., Bertotto, D., Radaelli, G., Cherif, N., Temraz, T., Chiarello, G. L., & Costa, A. (2026). Photo-Electrocatalysis to Mitigate the Environmental Impact of Nitrogen Compound Pollution in the Water and into the Atmosphere in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems for Trout. Sustainability, 18(14), 7333. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18147333

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