Delicia Yunita Rahman, Swastika Praharyawan, Marsiti Apriastini, Puji Rahmawati Nurcahyani, Ayu Lana Nafisyah, Widya Fatriasari, Apip Amrullah, Obie Farobie
Palm oil mill effluent (POME), a major by-product of the palm oil industry in Indonesia, is generated in large volumes and poses environmental risks due to its high organic content. Microalgae offer a promising approach to reduce this waste while simultaneously producing value-added biomass products. This study aimed to determine the optimal POME concentration for microalgal growth of G. sulphuraria 009, to evaluate phycocyanin yield, and to assess its antioxidant activity. This study was initiated with a preliminary screening using 5–50% POME to identify optimal microalgal growth conditions; cultivation in bioreactors with selected concentrations (2.5%, 5.0%, and 7.5%) to evaluate growth performance and chemical yields; and analysis of antioxidant activity and pigment content in both fresh and residual biomass. The preliminary stage revealed 5% POME as the upper threshold for growth, with 2.5% supporting optimal biomass comparable to control (Allen pH 2). Higher POME levels inhibited growth due to light attenuation and ammoniacal nitrogen toxicity. 2.5% POME recorded the highest phycocyanin yield per liter, while 7.5% POME yielded the highest antioxidant activity, likely due to oxidative stress. Antioxidant assays confirmed significant antioxidant activity in all phycocyanin extracts, with the highest activity in 7.5% POME, likely due to oxidative stress. Carotenoid and chlorophyll contents were evaluated in both fresh and residual biomass. Carotenoids were more abundant in fresh biomass, while chlorophyll-A was higher in residual biomass post-extraction, emphasizing the importance of extraction techniques in bioactive compound recovery. This study highlights G. sulphuraria 009 as a viable source of phycocyanin in POME-based cultivation, offering insights into industrial wastewater valorization and sustainable bioproducts. © 2025, IPB University Department of Aquatic Product Technology. All rights reserved.
Research Center for Applied Zoology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) KST Soekarno, Jalan Raya Jakarta Bogor, KM 46, West Java, Cibinong, 16911, Indonesia; Research Center for Applied Microbiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) KST Soekarno, Jalan Raya Jakarta Bogor, KM 46, West Java, Cibinong, 16911, Indonesia; Food Technology Study Program, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Dr. Setiabudi St. no.207, West Java, Bandung, 40154, Indonesia; Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Airlangga University Mulyorejo, Surabaya, East Java, Surabaya, 60115, Indonesia; Research Center for Biomass and Bioproducts, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) KST Soekarno, Jalan Raya Jakarta Bogor, KM 46, West Java, Cibinong, 16911, Indonesia; Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Lambung Mangkurat University, Brigadier General H. Hasan Basry St., South Kalimantan, Banjarmasin, 70123, Indonesia; Department of Mechanical and Biosystem Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, IPB University, Lingkar Akademik St. Campus IPB Dramaga, West Java, Bogor, 16002, Indonesia
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