Unand researcher develops breakthrough low-energy wastewater treatment

Kota Padang (ANTARA) - Zulkarnaini, a researcher and lecturer in the Environmental Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Andalas University (Unand), West Sumatra, has successfully developed wastewater treatment research using a technological approach called anammox.

"The research focuses on anaerobic ammonium oxidation technology, also known as anammox," Zulkarnaini said in Padang on Monday.

After successfully presenting his research in the Netherlands at the IWA Nutrient Removal and Recovery Conference 2026 at Delft University of Technology, Zulkarnaini is determined to continue developing his research in Indonesia, especially at Unand.

He explained that anammox technology is a biological process that utilizes specialized bacteria to remove nitrogen compounds from wastewater with lower energy requirements than conventional technologies.

The research development conducted at Unand explores various sources of local Indonesian micro-organisms that have the potential to contain anammox bacteria.

Through ongoing research, his team has successfully enriched and cultivated anammox bacteria from various natural environments throughout the country.

The achievement is significant because anammox bacteria are known to have a very slow growth rate and are difficult to cultivate.

Various innovations have emerged from the research, from the use of local materials as a biofil-forming medium to the development of an anammox reactor suited to Indonesia's tropical conditions.

"This is an important opportunity to demonstrate that research developed at Andalas University can contribute to the global scientific discussion on the future of more sustainable wastewater treatment," he said.

At the same time, Andalas University, in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), is developing a wastewater treatment system based on a combination of anammox technology and struvite recovery for tofu industry waste in Sumedang District, West Java.

In addition to reducing environmental pollution, the technology enables the recovery of nutrients into struvite, which can be used as a fertilizer raw material.

The approach is considered in line with global trends encouraging wastewater treatment not only to remove pollutants but also to recover economically valuable resources.

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Translator: Muhammad Zulfikar, Cindy Frishanti Octavia

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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