WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2025 57 (CONTINUED ON PAGE 58) FIGURE 5. Japanese researchers working with the Chilean partners to transfer IPTM technology (J. Barraza) FIGURE 3. Vacuum sludge dewatering filtration of salmon suspended solids (G. Merino) FIGURE 4. Suspended solids settling beds used for wastewater treatment in open land-based salmon farm (G. Merino) FIGURE 6. IPTM pilot plant deployed at Molco salmon land-based RAS facility (J. Barraza) with national and international partners, has led the implementation of the Japanese IP™ (Intelligent Passage System) technology in Chile (Figure 5). Recognized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as a “Green Industry,” this technology has become a benchmark in efficiency and sustainability since its introduction in 2015. What is IP™ Technology? The “Intelligent Passage” System (IPTM) has emerged as an outstanding innovation in the treatment of industrial liquid waste (ILW) from the salmon industry in Chile. This system is distinguished by its ability to significantly reduce aquacultural sludge production. This methodology not only minimizes the generation of solid waste but also reduces the emission of odors and reduces the need for constant maintenance (Merino et al. 2018). The IP™ system is based on an advanced biological process that alternates aerobic phases, where oxygen is used, and anaerobic phases, without oxygen, for comprehensive wastewater treatment. This approach enables a substantial reduction of sludge, achieving removal levels between 80% and 100%, significantly lowering the volume of waste requiring final disposal. Additionally, it produces effluents with low solid content and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), while reducing energy consumption, the need for specialized labor, and the use of chemicals compared to traditional technologies (Merino et al. 2017). Another key advantage of IP™ is its operational simplicity. Its flexible design allows easy integration into facilities of different sizes, from small-scale installations to large industrial projects, without compromising treatment quality. Moreover, the system’s stability in the face of load variations or adverse environmental conditions ensures applicability across diverse scenarios. Pilot test of IPTM in Atlantic salmon commercial land-based facilities The IPTM pilot scale system has a treatment capacity of up to 5 m3 per day. The system has a flow regulator driven by a hydraulic pump ensuring a constant flow of 0.21 m3/h. And it has dimensions of 12 m length, 1 m width, and 1 m height. The IPTM pilot system requires a 0.33 kW hydraulic pump (Dreno, Compatta 1M) and a 4 kW blower (Airtech, ASC0315-1MT401-7) for its operation. To validate the IPTM technology for the removal of suspended solids from land-based wastewater Atlantic salmon farms, pilot trials were conducted at two reference fish farms: Molco (operated by Multi X) in the Araucanía Region (Figure 6), and Río Cude (operated by Salmones Chile) in the Los Lagos Region (Figure 7). The IPTM pilot scale system was fed with a flow from the backwashing of drum filters; main contaminants were feces and unconsumed feed. The IPTM system was axially subdivided into 5 points, evenly spaced at 3 m, to determine the 5 sampling points for water quality data collection. Sampling point 1 was at the affluent section, and sampling point 5 at the effluent section. In addition to this it was decided to take water quality parameters twice a day, in the morning (08:30) to set the lowest temperatures at this time, and a time in the afternoon (15:00) to set the highest temperature. The efficiency of the IPTM system can be evaluated by the
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