BRIN Offers Solution to Convert Tofu Wastewater into Energy
- STIC CEGIR
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has introduced an innovative method to transform tofu wastewater into a renewable energy source through the Fixed Bed Reactor (FBR) technology using bamboo media. Researcher Dewi Nilawati from BRIN’s Center for Environmental and Clean Technology Research (PRLTB) explained that tofu wastewater contains high organic content and low pH, posing a major threat to be environment it left untreated. The FBR technology developed by BRIN enables microorganisms to grow on bamboo surfaces and decompose organic compounds anaerobically, producing methane biogas as an alternative energy source. Laboratory tests revealed that the reactor can operate stably without pH adjustment, achieving optimal methane production at an organic load of 4.3 kg COD/m3/day. The dominant microbes, hydrogenotrophic methanogens, can thrive in acidic conditions, playing a crucial role in methane generation from tofu wastewater.
This technology has been implemented in Sumedang, where a six-stage FBR system produces about 74 m3 of biogas per day, distributed to 91 households for cooking. Dewi emphasized that waste should not merely be viewed as an environmental problem, but as a potential renewable energy source that can be harnessed sustainably. She expressed hope that collaboration among researchers, government, and industry players will expand the use of FBR technology across Indonesia. With its simple, eco-friendly design and use of local materials like bamboo, the FBR system represents a practical and sustainable solution for small-scale industry waste management while supporting the green energy transition and reducing environmental pollution.
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