Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 19 No 3 (2015): 463 – 471

 

 

 

TREATMENT OF PALM OIL MILL EFFLUENT (POME) USING MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR

 

(Rawatan Effluen Kilang Kelapa Sawit (POME) menggunakan

Membran Bioreaktor)

 

Abd. Aziz Mohd Azoddein*, Hazlan Bin Haris, Faten Ahada Mohd Azli

 

Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Natural Resources,

University Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur.

 

*Corresponding author: aaziz@ump.edu.my

 

 

Received: 7 January 2015; Accepted: 1 April 2015

 

 

Abstract

Malaysia is the largest producer and exporter of palm oil. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) which is highly polluting effluent is becoming a major problem to environment as if it not being treated well before discharged based on standard limit imposed by The Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE) for effluent discharged. Samples from mixing ponds which act as activated sludge are collected and being analyze using water analyzer method to obtain parameters such as BOD, COD, suspended solid, turbidity and pH. Wastewater samples from facultative ponds are also being analyzed than mix with activated sludge treated in the bioreactor. Results from lab-scale bioreactor are used in membrane bioreactor pilot plant system to treat the wastewater. Results from bioreactor treatment in pilot plant scale show a decrement 61.2 % of BOD and 58.9% of COD, suspended solid and turbidity are also reducing up with pH in range of 5-9.After the wastewater was treated in the ultrafiltration membrane system, high quality water with total of deterioration for all parameter are up to 99.9% and pH up to7.39. This results show that the membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment system are highly effective in treating POME.

 

Keywords:    Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)

 

Abstrak

Malaysia merupakan pengeluar terbesar dan pengeksport minyak sawit. Palm efluen kilang minyak (POME) yang sangat mencemarkan efluen menjadi satu masalah yang besar kepada alam sekitar seolah-olah ia tidak dirawat dengan baik sebelum dilepaskan berdasarkan had standard yang dikenakan oleh Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS) Malaysia bagi effluen yang dilepaskan. Sampel dari kolam pencampuran yang bertindak sebagai enapcemar diaktifkan dikumpulkan dan menganalisis yang menggunakan kaedah analisa air untuk mendapatkan parameter seperti BOD, COD, pepejal terampai, kekeruhan dan pH. Sampel air sisa dari kolam fakultatif juga sedang dianalisis daripada campuran dengan enapcemar diaktifkan dirawat dalam bioreaktor. Keputusan daripada bioreaktor berskala makmal digunakan dalam bioreaktor membran sistem kilang perintis untuk merawat air kumbahan. Keputusan dari rawatan bioreaktor dalam skala loji perintis menunjukkan susutan 61.2% daripada BOD dan 58.9% daripada COD, pepejal terampai dan kekeruhan juga mengurangkan dengan pH dalam julat 5-9.After air sisa yang dirawat dalam sistem membran ultraturasan, tinggi air berkualiti dengan jumlah kemerosotan untuk semua parameter adalah sehingga 99.9% dan pH sehingga to7.39. Keputusan ini menunjukkan bahawa sistem rawatan bioreaktor membrane (MBR) adalah sangat berkesan dalam merawat POME.

 

Kata kunci:      Efluen Kilang Minyak Sawit (POME),  Permintaan Oksigen Biokimia (BOD), Permintaan Oksigen Kimia (COD), Membran Bioreactor (MBR)

 

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