Sequencing batch reactor for treatment of palm oil mill effluent

Abstract

Oil palm is commonly used in commercial agricultural activities as the second leading export in Malaysia. The main by-products and wastes that are produced from oil palm includes empty fruit bunch (EFB) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) generated from sterilizer condensate, palm fibre and palm kernels. Due to its high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations, POME has been recognized to be one of the main sources for environmental pollution. In this study, sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) namely experimental reactor R1 and control reactor R2 have been used at height to diameter (H/D) ratio of 17 for optimal granulation process. R1 and R2 were operated on a sequential cyclic processes comprehended of anoxic fill, react, settle, decant and idle period while simultaneously removing COD, BOD and color at organic loading rate (OLR) of 2.5 kgCOD m-3d-1. Good COD removal of up to 85% was achieved in R1 as compared to 70% in R2 indicating efficient COD removal in SBR when operated with seeding sludge. However, color removal for R2 was higher than R1 at 85% as compared to 72% which was presumably due to contributions of phenolic content in the influent.