Bio-Methane from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME): Transportation Fuel Potential in Malaysia
Keywords:
Palm oil mill effluent (POME), biogas, bio-methaneAbstract
Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a waste produced from oil palm processing. It contains high biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Untreated pome release methane, which has 25 times greenhouse gases (GHG) potential more than carbon dioxide (CO2). However, trapped POME through anaerobic digestion produced biogas contained 40% to 70% methane. Biogas can be purified into bio-methane for transportation utilization. The potential of biogas production and bio-methane utilization for petrol car were evaluated based on biogas plant registered with clean development mechanism (CDM). It was found that a palm oil mill in Malaysia is capable of producing 1000 –4200 tons of bio-methane per year and capable of fuelling 1,309, 2,129 and 3, 240 cars per year from small, medium and large size palm oil mill. The bio-methane produced can be supplied to near petrol station around palm oil mill for local utilization and reducing GHG releasedto the atmosphere.