Department of Chemical Engineering
University of San Carlos Technological Center
Nasipit, Talamban, Cebu City
ChE 426 N
Introduction to Biotechnology
A Critique on a
Utilization of Coconut Milk Skim Effluent (CSME) as Medium Growth for Spirulina
platensis
Submitted to
Dr. Camila Flor Y. Lobarbio
by
Carl John Louie G. Navalta
March 31, 2016
Introduction
According to Indonesian Commercial Newsletter, Indonesia has some vast coconut
plantations with about 3.8 million hectares expanding from 1.66 million hectares in 1969. These
plantations are owned by individual farmers in majority, and most of the coconut trees are grown
naturally and without proper fertilization. In 2009, Indonesia has produced an amount of 19 million
tons of coconuts, with a small difference in production of 19.1 million tons in 2014 (FAOSTAT,
2015).
There are many coconut-based products, these includes coconut milk powder, jam, liquid
milk, chips, vinegar, nata de coco, virgin oil, and coconut water concentrate. This is because most
parts of the coconut have a commercial value, not only in the food industry, but also in the
production of construction materials. Among the coconut-based products that have high
commercial value are virgin coconut oil (VCO), activated carbon, coconut fiber, coconut charcoal,
and oleo-chemicals in the form of fatty acid.
But with the increasing production of these useful products, wastes are also generated. In
VCO production, traditional method of wet milling is commonly used. This process involves
pressing of coconut meat and further separation of the extract with the addition of water. The virgin
oil can then be separated through centrifugation (Bautista, 2015). The oil is separated from the
coconut milk skim effluent (CMSE) which is considered as wastewater. This effluent has
extremely pungent and foul odor due to high organic content and rancid oil that is intolerable
(Chanakya and Swamy, 2012).
Many effluents are utilized by many researchers, mostly in cultivating useful organisms.
The researchers of this study aim to utilize CMSE as a medium for Spirulina platensis culture.
Summary of the Study
Cultivation medium was prepared by collecting CMSE from a small virgin coconut oil
processing factory in Yogyakarta. It was filtered to separate the cake and other impurities present
in the effluent. The filtrate was boiled to a temperature of 100oC for sterilization purposes and was
cooled down to 30oC. Growth conditions for S. platensis were obtained, and it was grown in two
1
media, CMSE medium alone and CMSE medium added with commercial grade synthetic medium
for cultivation. In the first cultivation condition, 20% v/v inoculum of S. platensis was added in
diluted medium of CMSE in different v/v percentage (10, 20, 40, 60, and 80). Distilled water with
Bangladesh No. 3 synthetic nutrient (100% w/v) was added to each medium. IN the second
cultivation medium, different w/v percentages of the synthetic nutrient were added (10, 20, 30, 40,
50). A light source from a fluorescent lamp was initiated, and the cultivation was agitated.
The growth rate of S. platensis was calculated in logarithmic phase after 5 days of
cultivation using UV-vis spectrophotometer at 680 nm wavelength. The equation used is:
ln(1 ) ln(0 )
= Eq. 1
where,
1 = optical density at the last day of cultivation
= optical density at the first day of cultivation
= initial time of cultivation in days
t = end time of cultivation in days
Referring to figure 2, high concentrations of CMSE tend to have a slow growth of S.
platensis indicated by low optical density after 5 days of cultivation. Figure 3 also shows that
synthetic nutrient added in high concentration inhibit the growth of S. platensis resulting to a low
optical density.
Using equation 1, the growth rate calculated is summarized in table 2. With increasing
concentration of CMSE medium, the growth rate of S. platensis is also increased. In the addition
of synthetis nutrient, at 20 w/v % the growth rate of S. platensis is highest.
The effluent was also characterized by taking biomass from cultivation. The broth was
dried in 60oC for 8 hours to reach 9% moisture content. The sample was then analyzed using
Kjedahl method to obtain protein content, COD, BOD and nitrogen content of the effluent.
2
Evaluation
The coconut processing industry generates significant amount of wastewater (Gomes, et
al., 2014) where it contains high amount of organic materials that causes pungent and foul odor to
bodies of water. In the Philippines, Chia Meei company generates 80,000 liters of coconut
wastewater a day in the production of commercial milk (Peter Paul Philippines Corporation, 1993).
There are wastewater treatments that are available for this kind of waste, but this study helps in
utilizing the waste as a medium for cultivating S. platensis. With this, the researchers of this study
is motivated in designing a cultivation medium for S. platensis in order to reduce coconut
wastewater generated from coconut processing plants.
The researchers of the study used a correlation to calculate for the growth rate of S.
platensis with the optical density using a spectrophotometer. The use of spectrophotometer is an
effective way in getting the optical density of the samples.
The characterization of the effluent helps in the analysis of its content, in order to meet the
standards and the optimum nutrient requirement of S. platensis. The result shows that CMSE alone
does not meet the requirement of the microalgae, and thus the need of additional nutrient.
The data gathered by the researchers are shown in plots and tables, which made it easier
for the readers to understand the discussion and be able to see the trend in the growth of the
microalgae. Although, the data points and sample calculations for the growth using equation 1 is
not presented.
Comparison between CMSE medium and CSME + synthetic nutrient was not clearly
discussed in the paper, rather it was shown in a form of tabulation. The readers may not be able to
see directly the difference in the growth of the microalgae between the two media. Although
discussions on the trend of the growth of the microalgae is present and references were cited for
verification of the researchers argument.
3
The researchers were successful in obtaining results on the purpose of this study, which is
to characterize the coconut milk skim effluent and use it as a medium for S. platensis culture and
some factors that could be a source of problem encountered during the experiment were addressed.
A significant increase in the growth and production of biomass were recorded and the researchers
have concluded that CSME + synthetic nutrient is a good pair in cultivating the microalgae.
There are many errors in grammar, spelling and use of punctuation marks in the paper. In
the conclusion part, some statements could be under recommendation for future studies.
References
Bautista, K., Canlas, J.J., Dimal, J., Te, C.L. 2005. Virgin Coconut Oil Fresh-Dry Process: Wet
Milling Route.Retrieved on March 24, 2016 from
http://fs.mapua.edu.ph/MapuaLibrary/Thesis/Virgin%20Coconut%20Oil%20Fresh%20Dry%20P
rocess%20Wet%20Milling%20Route%20FULL%20TXT.pdf
Gomes, M., Duarte, J.L., Pereira, N.M., Martinez-Huitle, C.A., Tonholo, J., Zanta, C.L. 2014.
Development of a System for Treatment of Coconut Industry Wastewater Using Electrochemical
Processes Followed by Fenton Reaction. Water Science and Technology. Vol. 69, Issue 11. IWA
Publishing. Alliance House, 12 Caxton Street, London
Indonesian Commercial Newsletter. 2011. Retrieved on March 24, 2016 from
http://www.datacon.co.id/PalmOil-2011Coconut.html
Peter Paul Philippines Corporation. 1993. Manufacture of Food Products and Beverages.
Retrieved on March 24, 2016 from http://infohouse.p2ric.org/ref/10/09527.htm
