Diploma in Palm Oil Milling Technology & Management Semester 1

DIPLOMA IN PALM OIL MILLING
TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT

SEMESTER 1
LECTURE NO. 26
TOPIC: EFFLUENT TREATMENT

(Anaerobic Digestion & Biogas Utilization)
1. EFFLUENT TREATMENT
 Raw POME comprises of water-soluble components of palm
fruit inclusive of fibre and oil.
 POME are non-toxic in nature but acidic (pH of 4) and BOD of

25,000 to 40,000 mg/litre.
 BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) measures the amount of

dissolved molecular oxygen consumed by chemical and
microbiological action.
 High BOD depletes oxygen.

2. EFFLUENT TREATMENT
 Basically it is a biological treatment
comprising of;
 Deoiling
 Anaerobic stage
 Aerobic stage
3. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
A process which involves the breakdown of all organic matter
by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen or other
oxidizing chemicals.
There are 3 stages;
 Hydrolysis - complex organic molecules to simpler

molecules by hydrolytic microorganisms.
 Acidogenesis - fermentation forming simpler organic
compounds VFA (Volatile FattyAcids).
 Methanogenesis - VFA into methane and carbon dioxide.
4. TYPES OF ANAEROBIC SYSTEM
 Ponding System.
 Open Digester Tank.
 Closed High Rate Conventional Digester
wit gas compressor or mechanical stirrers.
 Anaerobic Contact System.
5. FACTORS INFLUENCING
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
 Nutrient e.g. carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous,
 pH – between 7.0 and 7.2
 Redox potential – between – 520 and – 530 mV.
 Temperature – Mesophilic 35 to 40°C
 Thermophilic 55 to 60°C
 Toxic Substances.
6. CONTROL/MONITORING
OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTER
 Constant and even feeding.
 Minimize temperature fluctuation.
 Well – mixing.
 Regular monitoring on VFA, Alkalinity and
gas composition.
7. a) EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
Table 1 shows typical effluent

characteristics of contents in
anaerobic contact digesters.
Reduction in BOD and oil & grease
are 98.8 and 96.6% respectively. The
discharge from anaerobic digester is
non-acidic in nature.
Table 1. Typical characteristics of
Anaerobic Contact Digester
Effluent
Parameter Feed #1 #2 #3 Discharge Reduction
Temp. °C 43.2 43.00 43.8 42.4
BOD, mg/l 1790 381 364 414 218 98.8%
0
COD, mg/l 5170 9209 10785 13522 6388 87.6%
0
TS. mg/l 2890 11228 12560 16178 14046 51.4%
0
SS. mg/l 2000 7640 8900 11950 5060 74.7%
0
O&G, mg/l 4400 110 194 138 150 96.6%
TN, mg/l 360 258 264 302 193 46.4%
pH 4.7 7.2 7.3 7.3 7.3
VA, mg/l 240 348 156
Alkalinity,mg/l 2700 2750 2750
7. b
Table 2 shows the characteristics of digested

effluent from anaerobic conventional digester.
The BOD is significantly higher than that of
anaerobic contact digester. The difference in
BOD may be due to difference in retention
time and/or different microorganisms
activities.
Table 2. Characteristics of Digested POME
from Anaerobic Conventional
Digester (“High Rate”)
Parameter
Temp. °C 43
pH 7.15
VA, mg/l 266
Alkalinity, mg/l 2300
BOD, mg/l 1900
SS, mg/l 3725
AN, mg/l 55
TN, mg/l 176
O&G, mg/l 172
8. BIOGAS UTILISATION
Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon

dioxide with the presence of traces of
hydrogen sulphide and ammonia. Biogas
has been used as boiler fuel for boiler,
running gas generating set and generating
heat for dryness (for SMR and sanitary
manufacturing plant).
Table 3. Composition of Biogas Produced
from digestion of POME
CH4 % VOL CO2 % vol H2 S ppm Remarks
53.8 – 68.9 31.1 – 46.2 672 - 2580 #, *
54.6 – 69.7 30.3 – 45.4 560 – 1570 #, X
60.9 – 79.5 20.5 – 39.1 840 - 1400 +
* Digestion 17 days retention time at 203 m3 POME/day

X Digestion 10 days retention time at 340 m3 POME/day
# Sample obtained during normal feeding days
+ Sample obtained during period without feeding for 2 consecutive
days
9. ANAEROBIC EFFLUENT
UTILISATION
 Organic fertilizer
 Land application with BOD < 5000 mg/l
 sprinkle system
 pipe irrigation system
 flat bed/long bed system
 furrow system
 gravity flow system
 tractor/tanker system
10. CONCLUSION
 Anaerobic digestion is an efficient and cost
effective biological treatment system.
 Biogas generated have economic value.
 Closed tank digester minimize the
unpleasant odour and is environmental
friendly.
 Anaerobic digested effluent can be utilized
as organic fertilizer.

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DIPLOMA IN PALM OIL MILLING

TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT

TOPIC: EFFLUENT TREATMENT

 POME are non-toxic in nature but acidic (pH of 4) and BOD of

 BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) measures the amount of

 High BOD depletes oxygen.

 Hydrolysis - complex organic molecules to simpler

Table 1 shows typical effluent

Table 2 shows the characteristics of digested

Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon

* Digestion 17 days retention time at 203 m3 POME/day

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