Industrial Tofu Wastewater as a Cultivation Medium of Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris

Chlorella vulgaris have high lipid productivity as biodiesel source. Cultivation of C. vulgaris in this study using tofu wastewater in a 18-liters photobioreactor, 5 000 lux illumination, the pressure 1 atm and a temperature is 28˚C. The results indicated that the optimum of Chlorella growth found in cultivation by 20-30% waste medium. Waste concentration that higher than 35%, elucidated a decreased Chlorella growth. Amount of lipids obtained from cultivation using the waste medium was approximately 23%. Reduction of BOD, COD, phosphates, and ammonia ions are lower than the threshold value of waste after the cultivation is done.