Bio-Methane from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME): Transportation Fuel Potential in Malaysia

Muhamad Khairul Ilman Sarwani; Mas Fawzi; Shahrul Azmir Osman; Abu Bakar Nasrin

Authors

Muhamad Khairul Ilman Sarwani Centre for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies (CEIES), Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Malaysia, 86400 Batu Pahat Johor, Malaysia
Mas Fawzi Centre for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies (CEIES), Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Malaysia, 86400 Batu Pahat Johor, Malaysia
Shahrul Azmir Osman Centre for Energy and Industrial Environment Studies (CEIES), Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Malaysia, 86400 Batu Pahat Johor, Malaysia
Abu Bakar Nasrin Engineering and Processing Research Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), No. 6 Persiaran Institusi, B.B. Bangi, 43000, Kajang Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

Palm oil mill effluent (POME), biogas, bio-methane

Abstract

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.