Valorization of Tofu-Wastewater Anaerobic Digestate into Bacterial Cellulose Using Acetobacter Xylinum
TL;DR
Findings demonstrate the potential of tofu-wastewater anaerobic digestate as an alternative substrate for bacterial-cellulose production, and determine the treatment producing the highest pellicle thickness, dried bacterial cellulose sheet.
Abstract
Anaerobic digestate generated from tofu-industry wastewater treatment frequently contains residual organic matter exceeding wastewater quality standards, necessitating further treatment or valorization. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sugar, NPK supplementation on bacterial-cellulose formation from tofu-wastewater anaerobic digestate, determine the treatment producing the highest pellicle thickness, dried bacterial cellulose sheet; and preliminary supplementary-material cost estimation. A 2×3 factorial design comprising two sugar concentrations (15%; 30%w/v), three NPK concentrations (0.3%; 0.5%; 0.7%w/v) was applied, with three replicates each. Anaerobic digestate (500 mL) was inoculated with 10%(v/v) Acetobacter xylinum and incubated at approximately 30°C (14 days). The greatest bacterial-cellulose thickness was obtained in 15% sugar, 0.3% NPK, reaching 1.13cm, while 30% sugar supplementation substantially reduced pellicle formation. The corresponding dried sheet thickness was 0.075cm. Preliminary supplementary-material costs were estimated at IDR1,386,- for consumable inputs. These findings demonstrate the potential of tofu-wastewater anaerobic digestate as an alternative substrate for bacterial-cellulose production.