Alternative Challenges to Water Quality Improvement and Conservation of Freshwater Bivalves

Abstract

The response surface method has been used by researchers to optimize the conditions of the organic filtration reaction using shellfish. They analyzed the data by setting the size, flow rate, and filtration rate of shellfish as independent variables using the central composite design program in the software. The highest filtration rate was obtained at a flow rate of 24 L/h and a shell size of 10.6–11.4 cm with a residence time of 22.7 hr., while the lowest filtration rate was obtained at a flow rate of 48 L/h with a residence time of 10.4 hr. The excessively fast and low flow rate decreased the filtration rate owing to the increase in the residence time. The researchers suggest that for validation purposes, water velocities in a further range, along with an increase in retention time, should be assessed. They used a central composite design to optimize Sinanodonta woodiana filtration rates and feces production to identify the key factors and optimal conditions. The proposed response surface model illustrated the interactions among the variables on mussel filtration rate. The experimental filtration rate of 4.47 ± 1.82 L/mussel/h corresponded to the predicted value of 8.4 L/mussel/h, which validated the practicability of this optimization strategy.