60 SEPTEMBER • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Environmental and Social Impact The incorporation of IP™ in the aquaculture sector has represented a positive shift in water resource management. By reducing sludge volumes and improving the quality of treated water, the technology lessens environmental impacts while helping meet increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. This not only protects aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems but also strengthens the industry’s relationship with local communities, demonstrating a genuine commitment to sustainable development. From an economic perspective, IP™ offers significant competitive advantages. Its lower energy consumption and the potential to generate biogas for self-use translate into considerable savings in operating costs. Additionally, its scalability enables companies of different sizes to adopt the technology without the need for major modifications to their existing infrastructure. Conclusions In the context of aquaculture sludge management, the IPTM technology offers a promising alternative, with its ability to reduce BOD, mitigate suspended solids, and operate with low maintenance costs, which establish IPTM as a viable option to improve the environmental sustainability of the industry. Optimizing wastewater treatment processes, the IPTM system constitutes an alternative that opens new possibilities for the future of RIL treatment in aquaculture in Chile and in other worldwide regions where the aquaculture industry is of great economic importance. The IP™ results in Chile demonstrate that it is possible to achieve high levels of sludge removal with a flexible system that requires low energy consumption and can be adapted to different production scales. This technology not only addresses the current needs of the industry but also sets a benchmark for the development of more responsible practices aligned with social and regulatory expectations. Looking ahead, the challenge will be to expand this technology on a larger scale, integrating it into farming facilities and enhancing its application in other areas of the global aquaculture industry. With the support of academic institutions, international organizations, and companies committed to innovation, Chile is positioning itself as a leader in the adoption of sustainable technologies that seek to balance productive growth with environmental protection and community well-being. Acknowledgements The IPTM technology development in Chile has been supported by grant FIC-R- 30403172-0, and grant FONDEF IT20i0095. Notes Joel Barraza*, Carlos Basulto, Macarena Morales, Camilo Merino and German E. Merino, Laboratorio de Bioingeniería en Acuicultura, Departamento de Acuicultura, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile. * Corresponding author: jbarraza@ucn.cl References Brooks, K.M., Mahnken, C.V., 2003. 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Available online: https://hdl.handle. net/20.500.14001/7770 Merino, C., 2025. Evaluación a escala piloto comercial de la eficiencia en el abatimiento de contaminación orgánica tratado en un Biorreactor tipo IPTM para el tratamiento de RILes de una piscicultura de salmónidos. Aquacultural Engineering B.S. Thesis, Departamento de Acuicultura, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile. 64 pp. Merino, G., Illanes, J., Morales, M., Basulto, C., Orrego, R., Tagushi, S., Uki, N., Barraza, J., 2017. Sistema Intelligent Passage una tecnología emergente para depuración de aguas residuales. Versión Diferente, N°26: 63-67. Merino, G., Illanes, J., Morales, M., Basulto, C., Orrego, R., Tagushi, S., Uki, N., Barraza, J., 2018. Efectividad de la tecnología IP en el tratamiento de lodos y su posible aplicación en la industria salmonicultura. SalmonExpert, N°64:58-64 Mirzoyan, N., Tal, Y., & Gross, A., 2010. Anaerobic digestion of sludge from intensive recirculating aquaculture systems: Review. Aquaculture, 306(1–4), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/J. AQUACULTURE.2010.05.028 Rodríguez-Luna, D., Vela, N., Alcalá, F. J., & Encina-Montoya, F., 2021. The environmental impact assessment in aquaculture projects in chile: A retrospective and prospective review considering cultural aspects. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169006 FIGURE 10. Treated effluent water from a land-based salmon facility operating at 3000 m3/h (G. Merino)
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