PTT 259

OLEOCHEMICAL PROCESS AND

PRODUCTS
SEMESTER 1 : 2016/2017

Lecture on
Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)

By:
ABDUL LATIF BIN ABDUL RANI

29th SEPTEMBER 2016

 What is Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)?
Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a wastewater generated from
palm oil milling activities which requires effective treatment
before discharge into watercourses (i.e. river, pond,
groundwater) due to its highly polluting properties.

POME is a colloidal suspension consists of 96% water, 0.7% oil,

and 5% total solids including 2-4% suspended solid.

POME is produced from three major processing operations

sterilisation of FFB (36%), clarification of the extracted CPO
(60%), washing and cleaning of the palm oil and kernel
extraction residue (4%) (Sethupathi et al., 2004)

In Malaysia, palm oil industries have generated almost 53 million

tonnes of POME each year (Lorestani et al., 2006)
Figure 1: POME retention pond at Indonesia
 Source: MPOB
Figure 1: POME retention pond at Malaysia
The cheapest way of discharging of POME is by having a
retention pond before releasing it into the river.

However, POME contains high concentrations of :

• organic matter
• suspended solids (SS)
• oil and grease
• plant nutrients

So it can cause significant environmental effects like oxygen

depletion if it is discharged without efficient treatment.

The traditional disposal methods such as open dumping or

land application of POME is become impractical as it is:

Expensive, cause clogging the soil, kills the vegetation on

contact and, limitation on open space.
Views on POME discharges and related retention ponds
 Characteristic and composition of Palm Oil Mill
Effluent (POME)
• Fresh POME: is hot, acidic (pH 4 and 5)

• Colour: Brownish colloidal suspension contains high

concentration of organic matter

• High amount of total solids (40 500 mg/L)

• Oil and grease (4000 mg/L)

• COD (chemical oxygen demand) (50 000 mg/L)

• BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) (25 000 mg/L)

 Adverse effects of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) can leads to serious

environmental pollution involving:

• Contamination to the water bodies (e.g. river)

• Depletion of oxygen in the water – resulting extinction of

aquatic plants and animals

• Aesthetically unacceptable view

• Production of highly odour problem due to degradation of

the organic compound within POME
Discharge Standards (EQA 1974, 2005)
 Current treatment methods for POME
a) Anaerobic digestion system – 2 phase involved, raw POME
converted into volatile fatty acid (1st phase), then Volatile
fatty acid converted into methane and carbon dioxide (2nd
phase)

b) Extended aerobic process – involved continuous aeration

c) Ponding system – pond retention

d) Bioreactor system – microorganism degradation system

e) Compositing system - fertilisers

 Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) treatment
To remove suspended solid
particles as much as
Primary treatment
possible
(Physical treatment)
Involved:
• Sieving: using screening bar or mechanical sieve
• Sedimentation bed
• Filter
To biodegrade of the remaining
Secondary treatment dissolved organic particles using
(Biological treatment) microorganism
Involved:
• Digestive tank
• Aeration pond or lagoon
• Sedimentation tank
Primary treatment method for Palm Oil Mill Effluent
(POME)
Physical treatment of POME (primary treatment)

Aim of the primary treatment: To remove the suspended solid

particles.

- Primary treatment involved devices: Sieve, Sedimentation bed

and Filter.

- These mechanical techniques were used in sedimentation,

filtration and decolourization of effluent.

-Also been applied: Physico-chemical technique involving

coagulation of finely dispersed suspended solid particles,
adsorption of heavy metals.
Secondary treatment method for Palm Oil Mill Effluent
(POME)
Secondary treatment (known as biological treatment) involving
processes such as:

a) Digestion tank: Acidification phase – whereby the organic

particles been breakdown/converted into volatile fatty acids
(VFA) – this compound is needed as substrate in anaerobic
phase. Degradation process also produce Methane (CH4) and
CO2 gas.

b) Aeration lagoon: To further degrade of the organic substance by

microorganism in the presence of oxygen (by aerators).

c) Decanters: Same as centrifuge. To separate solid and water-

producing solid filter cakes – to be dried and disposed.