Investigating Environmental Impact of Tofu Production

Introduction

You are a part of a global effort to increase access to education and empower students through “open pedagogy.”  Open pedagogy is a “free access” educational practice that places you – the student – at the center of your own learning process in a more engaging, collaborative learning environment.  The ultimate purpose of this effort is to achieve greater social justice in our community in which the work can be freely shared with the broader community.  This is a renewable assignment that is designed to enable you to become an agent of change in your community through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  For this work, you will integrate the disciplines of Environmental Management; Industrial Engineering; Enviromental Engineering and Waste Management to achieve SDG #6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing the release of hazardous materials and chemicals, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and significantly increasing the recycling and safe reuse of recycled materials globally. Indicator 6.3.1: Proportion of safely treated domestic and industrial liquid waste.

Learning Objectives

• Observe the selected locations of tofu industries: Students will gain firsthand experience in identifying potential environmental issues associated with tofu production facilities. This may involve observing factors such as wastewater discharge points, sanitation practices, and proximity to waterways.
• Identify potential environmental issues by measuring wastewater quality: Students will learn basic techniques for measuring key parameters of wastewater quality, such as pH, conductivity, and biological oxygen demand (BOD). By comparing their measurements to environmental standards, students can identify potential environmental risks associated with the discharge of untreated tofu wastewater.

Purpose/Rationale

Small-scale industries, particularly those involved in tofu production, are known to generate significant volumes of organic wastewater as a byproduct. This wastewater is typically characterized by high concentrations of organic pollutants, including proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Studies have demonstrated that the discharge of untreated tofu wastewater can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems. One key concern is the depletion of dissolved oxygen (DO) levels due to the high biological oxygen demand (BOD) of organic pollutants. This oxygen depletion can create hypoxic zones, which are detrimental to aquatic life.

Instructions

• Site Observation:
  • Visit the assigned tofu production facility.
  • Observe the overall operations, focusing on wastewater discharge points and sanitation practices.
  • Take detailed notes and photographs to document observations.
  • Identify potential environmental concerns based on your observations (e.g., proximity of discharge points to waterways, presence of visible pollution).
• Wastewater Quality Measurement:
  • Collect a representative sample of wastewater from the designated discharge point.
  • Utilize appropriate testing equipment to measure key wastewater quality parameters:
    • pH
    • Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
    • Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Format Requirements

• Font: Times New Roman size 12 points.
• Line Spacing: Double line spacing.
• Margins: Maintain consistent margins 3 cm on all sides.
• Page Numbers: Include page numbers in the bottom right or left corner of each page.
• File Format: Submit your report in a DOC format.

• Title Page:
  • Include the report title, your name(s) and student ID(s)
• Introduction (1-2 pages):
  • Briefly introduce the importance of tofu as a food source.
  • Highlight the concern of environmental impact associated with tofu production, specifically focusing on wastewater discharge.
  • Clearly state the objective of your project: to assess the environmental impact by evaluating the quality of wastewater generated from small-scale tofu industries.
• Methodology (1-2 pages):
  • Describe the process of selecting the tofu production facility for observation.
  • Explain the procedures for site observation, including details on Observations recorded; Photographs or videos taken for documentation purposes
  • Describe the methods used for wastewater sample collection
  • Explain the analytical techniques used to measure wastewater quality parameters: pH, DO, BOD
• Results (1-2 pages):
  • Present the collected wastewater quality data in clear and concise tables or graphs.
  • Ensure proper labeling of tables and graphs, including titles, units, and legends.
  • Briefly explain the findings for each measured parameter, highlighting any significant observations.
• Discussion (2-3 pages):
  • Interpret the results of your wastewater quality analysis in relation to established environmental quality standards (mention specific standards if applicable).
  • Discuss the environmental implications of your findings, focusing on potential risks associated with untreated tofu wastewater discharge (e.g., oxygen depletion, aquatic ecosystem damage).
  • Acknowledge any limitations of your study, such as limitations in sample size, analytical methods, or scope of observation.
  • Briefly discuss potential strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of tofu wastewater (e.g., improved wastewater treatment methods).
• Conclusion (1 page):
  • Summarize the key findings of your project, emphasizing the importance of proper tofu wastewater management.
  • Restate the environmental concerns associated with untreated tofu wastewater discharge.
  • Briefly mention recommendations for further research or potential mitigation strategies.
• References (1 page):
  • List all sources cited within your report in APA 7th style reference format.
  • Ensure proper referencing of any information obtained from external sources, including websites and research papers.