Enhancing POME final discharge treatment efficiency using oil palm kernel shell activated carbon: a pilot and field-scale study

Conventional methods for treating palm oil mill effluent (POME), such as open ponding systems, are widely used due to their low cost. However, these systems require large areas, involve long treatment times, and often release final discharge that still contains high levels of pollutants, including persistent colour, posing significant environmental challenges. Therefore, this study has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the POME final discharge treatment system equipped with oil palm kernel shells activated carbon (OPKS-AC) for an effective treatment process. The POME final discharge treatment process was optimised using a laboratory-scale continuous adsorption system, substantially reducing biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solids (SS), and colour intensity of POME final discharge with pollutant removal efficiencies of >90 %. After these successful trials, the system was scaled up to 5 m3 h−1 pilot capacity, which successfully removed pollutants for up to five months before the OPKS-AC became saturated. The pilot system demonstrated remarkable efficiency in pollutant removal, reduced the final effluent pollutants to 10 mg L−1 for BOD, 30 American Dye Manufacturers Institute (ADMI) for colour, 50 mg L−1 for SS, 20 Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) for turbidity, a pH of 9.0, and 200 mg L−1 for chemical oxygen demand (COD). The performance data from the pilot system were evaluated and used for the construction of 50 m3 h−1 capacity of a field-scale continuous adsorption system known as CAS. This CAS effectively treated POME final discharge with a high reduction of colour intensity, low turbidity, metal content, BOD and COD, and minimal detection of pathogens, which makes the final discharge meet the water quality standards. This approach enhanced water efficiency and optimised usage, significantly improving water reclamation within the palm oil mill. The system incorporated a wetland for additional polishing and repurposed spent OPKS-AC as fertiliser. The CAS system provides additional cost benefits, including water savings valued at USD 11,541. This approach demonstrated a sustainable and economically viable POME final discharge management solution in the palm oil industry.

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