The PKM-Riset Eksakta Team, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Jember, headed by Rikma Dwi Mukharomah from the Chemistry Department, converted shrimp shells into chitosan, which was applied as a bioflocculant for treating waste water in shrimp ponds. This research team consists of Masrurotul Alfiah, Imelda Dwi Puspita, and Ka’aziyah Aulia Nada from the Chemistry Department and Indah Febrian from the Biology Department. Dr. Bambang Piluharto, S.Si., M.Si., from Department of Chemistry, FMIPA, was appointed as supervisor of the PKM-Exact Research Team, which won funding for the 8 Bidang Program Kreativitas Mahasiswa (PKM) in 2023.

“This research is expected to be an alternative to processing waste water from shrimp ponds,” said Rikma Dwi Mukharomah. The research was carried out for 4 months, starting June 16, 2023, at the Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, FMIPA, University of Jember. Furthermore, Rikma explained that chitosan-based bioflocculant is synthesized from shrimp shells through several stages, including deproteination, demineralization, and deacetylation. “The result obtained after the deproteination and demineralization processes is chitin, while from the chitin deacetylation process, chitosan is obtained,” she explained. Continue reading →