Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

UNSTERILIZED TOFU WASTEWATER AS MEDIA FOR CHLORELLA VULGARIS: EFFECT OF DILUTION ON CULTIVATION

Nur Indradewi Oktavitri, Fortunita Nindia Yustitia, Wahyu Budi Pratiwi and Dwi Ratri Mitha Isnadina

Abstract

Chlorella vulgaris has potency in many sectors, health; cosmetic; energy; and food. Research about low-cost medium has developed in recent years. Tofu wastewater has a potency to become medium for C. vulgaris growth. Unsterilized tofu wastewater was applied in this research to enhance potency symbiosis between C. vulgaris and microbes in tofu wastewater. 0; 25; 50; 75% of dilution percentage was applied in unsterilized tofu wastewater to observed of C. vulgaris response in this media. Increasing of biomass production inside the reactor indicated the adaptation capability of C. vulgaris inside unsterilized tofu wastewater. COD and ammonium removal also evaluated to present capability of C. vulgaris symbiosis with other microbes to remove pollutant inside tofu wastewater. All reactor with certain dilution was observed in a batch reactor for 12 days. The result of this research, biomass production in 12 observations fluctuated. 0% of dilution or without dilution of tofu wastewater gave high performance in biomass production. Dilution in unsterilized wastewater is needed to remove ammonium by C. vulgaris.