Nur Adlina Nadia Ahmad Ridzuan, Norhafezah Kasmuri, Khuriah Abdul Hamid, Satoto Endar Nayono, Amin Mojiri, Helmy Selim, Razi Ahmad, Nor Faizah Jalani
Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is the waste produced during palm oil production, containing pollutants and organic matter. In Malaysia, where oil palm occupies most of the agricultural land, the country accounts for one-third of global palm exports, contributing 2.4% to its gross domestic product (GDP). The industry generates significant waste, including suspended solids and other organic compounds. This study characterises waste pollutants in POME using total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrite-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), and phosphorus. It investigates the use of natural substances, such as orange and lemon peels, to effectively treat these pollutants in sustainable practices. The results analysis demonstrated a reduction in BOD, COD, TSS, and nutrient concentrations following treatment. These findings suggest that natural substances, specifically orange and lemon peels used as activated carbon, can effectively replace conventional water treatment methods, achieving contaminant removal rates exceeding 90%. Reducing pollutants helps comply with environmental regulations and minimises the ecological impact of palm oil production. Hence, this emphasizes the need for monitoring and optimization of treatment processes to accommodate changes in POME composition resulting from seasonal variations and operational practices. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Shah Alam, 40450, Malaysia; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Selangor, Selangor, Puncak Alam, 42300, Malaysia; Department of Civil Engineering and Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Jalan Colombo 1, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia; Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, 85287, AZ, United States; Xantara Sdn. Bhd, Lot No. 3992 & 3993, No. 20 & 21, Lorong 3/1, Senawang Industrial Estate, Negeri Sembilan, Senawang, 70450, Malaysia; Faculty of Civil Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Perlis, Malaysia; Engineering & Processing Research Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (Lembaga Minyak Sawit Malaysia), No. 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, Kajang, 43000, Malaysia
