Research progress in aquaculture tailwater treatment technologies

Background With the rapid expansion of the aquaculture industry, the impact of the resulting aquaculture tailwater on the environment, human production and life has become increasingly significant. Nutrients, pathogens and other harmful substances contained in the tailwater, if discharged directly without proper treatment, will not only contaminate water bodies and disrupt the ecological balance but also pose potential threats to human health. Therefore, the effective treatment of aquaculture tailwater has become a focal issue of concern both within and outside the industry. Progress Currently， aquaculture tailwater treatment technologies mainly include physical treatment, chemical treatment, biological treatment, and their combined treatment technologies. Due to differences in their treatment mechanisms, these technologies exhibit varied removal efficiencies for various pollutants. This review first introduced the composition of pollutants in aquaculture tailwater and their impacts on ecosystems, followed by a detailed analysis of the treatment mechanisms, advantages, and problems of each type of treatment technology. Outlook In the future, tailwater treatment will further evolve towards intelligence, greenness, and integration. Further research is needed on how to achieve maximum pollutant removal through combined treatment methods while balancing economic benefits and environmental protection factors. Significance Conducting in-depth research and development on aquaculture tailwater treatment technologies are of great significance for reducing environmental pollution during aquaculture processes, maintaining aquatic ecological balance, and also provides technical support and theoretical references for promoting the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry.