A Zero Discharge Treatment System Of Palm Oil Mill Effluent

 

Researchers: Soh Kheang Loh, Muzzammil Ngatiman, Weng Soon Lim and Yuen May Choo

 

SYSTEM REFERENCE

 

MPOB in collaboration with Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU) and Ronser Bio-Tech Sdn. Bhd. (RONSER) has developed the technology and built a zero discharge POME treatment pilot plant (Figure 1) at MPOB’s Palm Oil Mill Technology Centre (POMTEC) in Labu, Negeri Sembilan. The aims of the zero effluent discharge treatment system are to recover usable materials such as oil, sludge, biogas and water from the effluent, to minimize waste and to recover plant nutrients. This zero-effluent discharge system in the palm oil milling process treats the incoming effluent so that the treated effluent is free from impurities, recycles the water and turns the solid waste into fertilizer. Captured biogas is used for electricity generation (Figure 2).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Figure 1. Zero effluent discharge pilot plant, Labu, Negeri Sembilan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Figure 2. Schematic diagram of a zero discharge process of palm oil mill effluent (POME).

 

 

The system is able to produce an average of 28 m3 biogas per m3 of POME (based on COD removal). The average compositions of biogas were 57% CH4, 42% CO2 and 418 ppm H2S. Besides, it is capable of achieving 81% compliance for biological oxygen demand (BOD) 20 ppm and 97% below BOD 50 ppm. 

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND COMMERCIALISATION

 

• The integrated "anaerobic-aerobic" treatment of POME routed in "pretreatment-biological processes-membrane separation" has never been reported before; therefore, it is the first of its kind for POME treatment.

• A Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Patent Application on Zero Discharge Treatment System of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) was filed by MPOB and RONSER on 11th May 2012 (PCT Application No. PCT/MY2012/000100).

• MPOB has granted RONSER to commercialize and market the technology.