The production process in a palm oil mill consists of sterilization, stripping, clarification, and palm kernel oil recovery . This generates solid waste and liquid waste. This waste, when discharged directly into the environment without proper treatment, can pollute the environment, emitting greenhouse gases (GHG) that cause global warming.
What is palm oil mill effluent?
Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is mostly generated from the stages of sterilization, clarification, and hydro-cyclone operation in palm oil mills . Production of 1 ton of CPO requires about 5 to 7.5 tons of water, and nearly 50% of the water used ends up as POME .
How can a palm oil mill improve biogas production?
The need for raw materials for biogas could be met with a POME input of 180,000 m 3 per year or 15,000 m 3 per month, which could be achieved by increasing the capacity of the palm oil mill or buying POME from other mills. However, increasing the capacity of a palm oil mill means increasing investment costs and requires an increasing number of FFB.
How does a palm oil mill work?
Biogas flows to the flare or the digester during engine maintenance. Based on the process described above, it can be seen that this mill applies a conventional biogas production system, as do most other palm oil mills in Indonesia.