Anaerobic treatment of palm oil mill effluent using combined high-rate anaerobic reactors

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 141; pp. 138 - 144
• Main Authors: Choi, Won-Ho, Shin, Chang-Ha, Son, Sung-Min, Ghorpade, Praveen A., Kim, Jeong-Joo, Park, Joo-Yang
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anaerobic filter reactor; Anaerobic hybrid reactor; Anaerobic treatment; Bacteria, Anaerobic - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Biological treatment of sewage sludges and wastes; Biomass; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Crack opening displacement; Effluents; Environment and pollution; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Industrial Waste; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Mills; Organic loading rate (OLR); Organic removal rate; Palm Oil; Palm oil mill effluent (POME); Plant Oils; Reactors; Use and upgrading of agricultural and food by-products. Biotechnology; Various methods and equipments; Water Pollutants - analysis; Water Pollutants - chemistry; Water Purification - methods; Palm oil mill effluent (POME); Organic removal rate; Organic loading rate (OLR); Anaerobic hybrid reactor; Anaerobic filter reactor; Anaerobic digestion; Bioreactor; Palm oil; Hybrid reactor; Anaerobe; Organic loading; Oil plant by product; Biofilter
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.02.055

► The combined sequential anaerobic reactors were developed for POME treatment. ► Average COD removal of 93.5% was obtained with the OLR of 8.5–23kg [COD]/m3/d. ► Maximum COD removal of 95.6% was achieved at 13kg [COD]/m3/d OLR in primary AHR. ► The secondary reactors helped to improve the safety and performance of the system. ► Average methane yield of 0.171–0.269l [CH4]/g [COD removed] was obtained.
Combined system of high-rate anaerobic reactors for treating palm oil mill effluent (POME) was developed and investigated in this study. The system composed of one common primary hybrid reactor which was shared by two different secondary filter reactors. An overall COD removal efficiency of 93.5% was achieved in both systems. The secondary reactors contributed not only in enhancing the COD removal efficiency, but also ensured the performance stability of the entire system. Biomass remained intact in the secondary reactor in contrast to the primary reactor in which occasional washout of biomass was observed. The pH of POME was adjusted at the beginning of the operation, as the process continued POME did not require the external pH adjustment as the pH was maintained in desired range. The biogas was produced up to 110l/d with the yield of 0.171–0.269l [CH4]/g [COD removed] and 59.5–78.2% content of methane.