Gunawan Gunawan, Nor Basid Adiwibawa Prasetya, Roni Adi Wijaya, Wilman Septina
Super-intensive shrimp aquaculture generates effluents with elevated nitrogen species and suspended solids that exceed environmental discharge limits. In this study, a hydroxide-activated Fe/C internal electrolysis (IE) system was developed for the treatment of super-intensive pond wastewater. The novelty lies in the use of NaOH activation to suppress electrode passivation and sustain iron redox cycling without external energy input. Under near-neutral conditions (pH 7–8.5), the system achieved up to 89.9% average removal of NO2−–N, NO3−–N, NH3–N, total suspended solids (TSS), and total dissolved solids (TDS), representing a 2–5-fold improvement compared to conventional aeration-based wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) performance. Electrode characterization (scanning electron microscope [SEM]–EDX, x-ray diffractometer [XRD], x-ray fluorescence [XRF]) confirmed dynamic formation of Fe2O3 and Fe(OH)3 phases, which functioned as in situ coagulants and catalytic redox mediators. Nitrogen removal proceeded via sequential nitrate reduction to nitrite and subsequent conversion to N2, coupled with adsorption and coagulation by iron hydroxide flocs. Hydroxide activation promoted a self-regenerating passivation–corrosion cycle, ensuring sustained electrode activity. These findings demonstrate that hydroxide-activated Fe/C IE offers a low-cost, energy-efficient, and scalable strategy for sustainable aquaculture wastewater management. © 2026 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia; Research Collaboration Center for Electrochemistry BRIN-UNDIP, Semarang, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia; Research Center for Electronics, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bandung, Indonesia
Research at a Glance
Register to unlock
Topics & SDG Alignment
Register to unlock
Collaboration
Register to unlock
Author Profile (Selected)
Register to unlock
References Overview
Register to unlock
Journal & Source
Register to unlock
Metadata & Integrity
Register to unlock