OUR PROJECT THEME: The treatment of aquaculture wastewater in two steps with two different technologies: BIOFLOC AND AQUAPONICS
Step1: The use of biofloc technology
Biofloc technology is based on the addition of carbon (C: N: 10-20) in the environment where aquatic animal organisms are present or in ventilated conditions after aquaculture application.
Our studies and our researches show that bacterial genus responsible for bioremediation develops in the BFT environment.
Biofloc technology (BFT) is an environmentally friendly system that targets and induces the development of heterotrophic and probiotic micro-organisms under limited or zero water change conditions. Because BFT regulates and improves water quality. In this way, unwanted nitrogenous compounds in water are eliminated.
Step2: The use of aquaponic after biofloc application
Aquaponics is a food production system that combines fish farming (aquaculture) with soilless crop farming (hydroponics). Aquaculture wastewater can be used for the removal of nutrients. Before discharging the wastewater of aquaculture the removal of excess nutrients is necessary for the conservation of natural freshwater bodies.
Ankara University with its pioneering identity being the first university of the Republic of Turkey has a considerable role in the qualified scientific research and education studies in the nation and the region. Ankara University has adopted transparency, justice, equality of opportunity and qualification as principles, as well as openness to improvement and change; it regards itself as thoroughly modernist and accepts variety as a form of intellectual wealth. Within this context, it encourages all its members to contribute to improvement and innovation, and prepares the necessary ground for the sustainability of such contributions.
Ankara University is of the missions to create scientific research and implement improvement projects by taking the primary needs of the country and the society into consideration; to support scientific research by allocating the highest amount of domestic and outer sources possible within both national and international contexts; to attach high importance to cooperation between the university and industry in scientific research activities; to accelerate national production with scientific and technological innovations by integrating the current technology development center with the region, highlighting interdisciplinary approaches in education and research, throughout the whole wide range of the scientific disciplines of the university; to prepare diploma programs in the forms of formal and non-formal education as well as certificate programs through continuing education and education on distance, such as e-learning, and thus establish an effective cooperation between the university and society. Ankara University provides education through associate (two- year) degree programs, and undergraduate (Bachelor’s Degree) programs and post-graduate programs through its 14 faculties, 3 graduate schools, 9 vocational schools, 2 colleges, 1 school of foreign languages and 1 conservatory, offering 36 associate degree and 99 undergraduate programs. The total number of faculty members is 1809. The current numbers of undergraduate and graduate students are 39978 and 12594, respectively. Ankara University has 32 libraries which contain 727000 books, 75 databases, 30761 electronic journals, 72000 e-books, 17000 manuscripts, and 562 printed journal subscriptions.