Does Tofu Wastewater Conversions Nutrient Increase the Content of the Chlorella pyrenoidosa?

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the lipid, carbohydrate and protein content of Chlorella pyrenoidosa after be¬ing treated with the tofu wastewater. The method used in this study was an experimental method with 4 treatments and 3 replications. The treatment was performed by administering different concentrations of the tofu wastewater to the C. pyrenoidosa. The concentrations used were 10%, 15% and 20%. Determina¬tion of these concentrations was based on the preliminary test. The main parameters observed were the lipid, carbohydrate and protein content of C. pyrenoidosa and the supporting parameters were the growth rate, doubling time and characteristics of the tofu wastewater. The study was conducted for 8 days using the batch culture method. In the exponential phase, the microalgae were harvested and then their contents were analyzed. The data obtained were analyzed using MS Office Excel 2016. The highest content of lipid, carbohydrate and protein of C. pyrenoidosa was in the treatment of 20% tofu wastewater, reaching 1.56%; 28.92%; and 28.92%, respectively. Meanwhile, the highest growth rate and the smallest doubling time in the treatment of 20% tofu wastewater accounted for 0.8264 day-1 and 0.0349 hours-1. Moreover, the rates of BOD and TSS of the tofu wastewater at the end of the study decreased. It can be concluded that administering different concentrations of the tofu wastewater can affect the lipid, carbohydrate and protein content of C. pyrenoidosa. It was suggested that further research is needed to conduct semi-con¬tinuous cultivation of C. pyrenoidosa using a higher density so that the results obtained can be optimized.