Depuration of oysters in a closed recirculating system

A pilot scale depuration facility for Crassostrea virginica has been established in a heavily industrialized suburb of New Orleans. This facility consists of five 10,000 liter holding tanks with a capacity of 200 bushels per 48 hour period. Because of its location, tanks are prepared with well water and synthetic sea salts to achieve the proper salinity. Effluent water is circulated through a series of treatment steps and eventually contacted with a form of advanced photooxidation (APO) in order to eradicate pathogenic bacteria and reduce accumulation of toxic metabolites.