12 - Vermicomposting and bioconversion approaches towards the sustainable utilization of palm oil mill waste

Abstract

The rapid growth of the world's population has led to a huge increase in food production and in turn to a huge increase in the amount of waste generated. Waste management is consequently becoming a major challenge throughout the world. Vegetable oil production has increased in recent years due to a higher demand for cooking oil. In this context, palm oil now occupies the top position in the vegetable oil market, and oil palm is one of the world's most rapidly expanding tropical crops. However, increased production of palm oil results in the generation of huge amounts of waste from palm oil mills. Therefore, waste management is a major challenge for this growing agro-industry, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia, the major palm oil-producing countries. Palm oil mill waste (POMW) can either be vermicomposted to make biofertilizer or it can be bio-converted into biofuels, thus providing an opportunity for simultaneous waste management and establishment of a sustainable bio-economy. A number of recent studies have investigated the treatment of different types of waste generated in palm oil mills, mainly considering biodegradation processes. This chapter outlines some cost-effective and eco-friendly technologies for converting palm oil mill waste into biofuel and other value-added products. Vermicomposting is a particularly effective biotechnique for managing organic waste, in terms of viability and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, palm oil biowaste is rich in microbes and its use in producing biofuel is promising. The main goal of this chapter is to promote the utilization of palm oil mill waste under the umbrella of green, sustainable technology that can potentially boost the economies of the palm oil-producing countries.