Effect of Filtered Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) via Close Loop In-Line Microbubbles Treatment Chamber for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) Treatment

Abstract

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is wastewater that has brought major impact due to its high content of organic pollutant. Thus, a stringent regulation has been imposed by Malaysia's Department of Environment (DOE), where the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) value have to be less than 20 mg/L before it is discharged into the water stream. The novelty of this research was to treat POME via a combination of closed-loop in line microbubbles treatment chamber and filter papers to reduce the BOD value. The treatment chamber was made up of translucent PVC pipe with two units of microbubbles diffuser attached under the pipeline. The air compressor and water pump were installed to supply air and to make sure the consistency the flow of water. Microbubbles were used due to great oxygen transfer coefficient at lower air flowrate. POME sample was treated based on APHA standard for 120 minutes with certain time intervals, with and without using filter paper to compare the efficiency of the treatment. Throughout the study, the smallest flow rate (1.0 L/min) has the highest BOD removal efficiency for both conditions (filtered and unfiltered). Almost 50.1%-64.2% of BOD removal efficiency can be achieved by applying filter paper for flow rate 1.0-3.0 L/min. The applications of filter papers were also one of the main reasons for BOD reduction due to rapid elimination of impurities.