Zero-Waste Technologies for the Sustainable Development of Oil Palm Mills

Abstract

AbstractWastes generated from oil palm processing can be potentially utilised for the production of renewable energy and organic fertilisers, as well as the recovery of used water. This chapter describes a research programme that adopted a sustainable approach. The primary objective of this research programme was to develop an integrated technology for zero-waste oil palm processing. Seven strategic thrust areas were identified to address the sustainability challenges of oil palm processing, namely, discharge of highly polluting effluent, emission of greenhouse gases and the generation of solid waste. The programme allows the generation of renewable energy from palm oil mill effluent (POME) and pretreated empty fruit bunches (EFB) hydrolysate from biohydrogen production. POME from a biohydrogen and biomethane two-stage fermenter was subjected to integrated algae wastewater treatment, carbon dioxide sequestration and membrane filtration to recover treated water for boiler feed application. Meanwhile, EFB and POME, along with the residual solids and algae biomass produced from these zero-waste technologies were used to produce organic fertiliser. A successfully tested laboratory-scale technology was scaled up to pilot scale for demonstration. A pilot plant installed under the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)-Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) zero-waste technology project at Sime Darby’s Tennamaram Oil Palm Mill features various technologies for sustainable development, transforming a regular mill into a green technology factory. Results of the pilot plant operation showed that POME and solid biomass can be used to generate additional 20% renewable energy than the technologies adopted in existing mills at 1020 t/d of POME discharge. Organic fertiliser was produced at a lower cost and shorter duration and the recovered water was used as boiler feedwater. The UKM-YSD pilot plant is a pioneering technology with the possibility of changing perceptions, particularly amongst foreign importers, that oil palm production can be environment-friendly.KeywordsZero-waste technologyBiohydrogenOrganic biofertiliserCO2 sequestrationWater recoveryCircular economy