Pollution Reduction Technology in Palm Oil Mill through Effluent Treatment and Management

Abstract

In achieving the status as one of the largest exporter of palm oil products, Malaysia’s palm oil mills have endlessly try to manage wastes coming from palm oil extraction processes. The main concern is to reduce the effluent that endangers aqua marines, while trying to be environmentally friendly industry in Malaysia. Most common method adopted by palm oil mills in this country is the ponding treatment, where stages of pond retain palm oil mill effluent (POME) and treat the viscous liquid waste through anaerobic treatment process. In recent years, many technologies have been looked into by researchers in making effluent treatment much more efficient, and also to perhaps utilize effluent to produce energy. Some of them include methane capture during anaerobic treatment, and also producing feedstock.