Sains Malaysiana 50(12)(2021): 3583-3592

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5012-10

Analysis of Biogas Production from Biomass Residue of Palm Oil Mills using an Anaerobic Batch Test

(Analisis Penghasilan Biogas daripada Sisa Biojisim Kilang Minyak Sawit menggunakan Ujian Kelompok Anaerob)

NORASHIKIN AHMAD KAMAL¹*, SITI NOORAIHANAH OSMAN¹, LEE DONG YEOL² & MARFIAH AB WAHID¹

¹Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²GS E&C, Seoul, South Korea

Diserahkan: 5 Julai 2020/ Diterima: 4 April 2021

ABSTRACT

The Malaysian palm oil industry has grown rapidly due to Malaysia’s tropical weather and suitable terrain. Palm oil production is now categorized as the most significant agriculture-based industry in the country. Along with strong economic returns, the palm oil industry also generates an abundance of waste products, including empty fruit bunches (EFB) (23%), mesocarp fibre (12%), shells (5%) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) (60%) for every batch of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) processed in the mills. This study is meant to fill the gap from previous studies in terms of biogas productions from the POME or the combination of POME and EFB which normally been conducted under the thermophilic conditions. The appropriate mixture ratios between POME and EFB in anaerobic digestion will reduce time of treatment and space if been conducted in the low temperature (mesophilic conditions). Thus, this paper is focuses on the analysis of batch test design which consist of low temperature (mesophilic, 20-40 °C) conditions for evaluating the performance of biogas production from the combination of POME and EFB in anaerobic digestion. The aim was to determine the amount of biogas production based on different ratios of POME and EFB mixtures. Biogas 1, containing 160 mL of fresh POME mixed with 40 g of EFB, was shredded and blended with 1800 mL seed sludge. Biogas 2, containing 120 mL of fresh POME mixed with 80 g of EFB, was shredded and blended with 1800 mL seed sludge. Based on the analysis of the results, the total production of Biogas 1 was greater than that of Biogas 2. The findings also show that the ratio of POME and 20% EFB (Biogas 1) was more efficient in producing the biogas compared to the ratio POME and 40% EFB (Biogas 2) under the mesophilic conditions. Thus, the mesophilic conditions required energy saving and low-cost process, compared to the previous studies which used the high temperature (thermophilic, 41-122 °C) that definitely was costly and require more energy consumption. This study will serve as preliminary results for enhancing the treatment methods use in Malaysia and form the early basis for the development of a new technology incorporating a combination of POME and EFB.

Keywords: Biogas production; empty fruit bunch (EFB); palm oil mill effluent (POME)

ABSTRAK

Industri minyak kelapa sawit Malaysia telah membangun secara pesat disebabkan oleh cuaca tropika di Malaysia dan rupa bumi yang sesuai. Pada masa ini, penghasilan minyak kelapa sawit telah dikategorikan sebagai industri pertanian yang terpenting di dalam negara ini. Selain daripada pulangan ekonomi yang besar, industri minyak kelapa sawit kaya dengan penghasilan hasil buangan, termasuk tandan buah kosong (EFB) (23%), fiber mesokarp (12%), cangkerang (5%) dan efluen minyak kelapa sawit (POME) (60%) untuk setiap kelompok tandan buah segar yang diproses di kilang. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk melengkapkan kajian lepas dari segi produksi biogas daripada penghasilan POME atau gabungan POME dan EFB yang kebiasaannya dijalankan di bawah keadaan termofili. Nisbah campuran yang sesuai antara POME dan EFB dalam proses pencernaan anaerob akan menurunkan masa rawatan dan ruang sekiranya ujian ini dijalankan pada suhu yang rendah (keadaan mesofili). Oleh itu, kajian ini adalah berfokuskan pada analisis ujian reka bentuk kelompok yang terdiri daripada keadaan suhu rendah (mesofili, 20-40 °C) untuk menilai prestasi penghasilan biogas daripada penggabungan POME dan EFB dalam proses pencernaan anaerob. Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan jumlah penghasilan biogas berdasarkan daripada penggunaan nisbah campuran POME dan EFB yang berbeza. Biogas 1 mempunyai 160 mL POME segar yang dicampurkan dengan 40 g EFB, campuran ini dicincang dan dikisar dengan 1800 mL benih enap cemar. Biogas 2 mempunyai 120 mL POME segar yang dicampurkan dengan 80 g EFB, campuran ini dicincang dan dikisar dengan 1800 mL benih enap cemar. Berdasarkan keputusan analisis, jumlah penghasilan Biogas 1 adalah lebih tinggi daripada Biogas 2. Penemuan kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa nisbah POME dan 20% EFB (Biogas 1) adalah lebih cekap dalam penghasilan biogas sekiranya dibandingkan dengan nisbah POME dan 40% EFB (Biogas 2) di bawah keadaan mesofili. Oleh itu, keadaan mesofili adalah diperlukan atas sebab jimat tenaga dan proses yang murah jika dibandingkan dengan kajian lepas yang menggunakan suhu tinggi (termofili, 41-122 °C) yang memerlukan penggunaan tenaga yang tinggi dan proses yang lebih mahal.

Kata kunci: Efluen minyak kelapa sawit (POME); penghasilan biogas; tandan buah kosong (EFB)

RUJUKAN

Ahmad, A., Ismail, S. & Bhatia, S. 2003. Water recycling from palm oil mill effluent (POME) using membrane technology. Desalination 157(1-3): 87-95.

Baharuddin, A.S., Hock, L.S., Yusof, M.Z., Abdul, N.A., Shah, U., Hassan, M.A., Sakai, K. & Shirai, Y. 2010. The effect of palm oil mill effluent (POME) anaerobic sludge from 500 m³ of closed anaerobic methane digested tank on pressed-shredded empty fruit bunch (EFB) composting process. African Journal of Biotechnology 9(16): 2427-2436.

Bala, J.D., Lalung, J. & Ismail, N. 2014. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment "microbial communities in an anaerobic digester’’: A review. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications 4(6): 1-24.

Chaikitkaew, S., Kongjan, P. & O-Thong, S. 2015. Biogas production from biomass residues of palm oil mill by solid state anaerobic digestion. Energy Procedia 79: 838-844.

Choong, C.G. & McKay, A. 2014. Sustainability in the Malaysian palm oil industry. Journal of Cleaner Production 85: 258-264.

de Souza, W.R. 2013. Microbial degradation of lignocellulosic biomass. In Sustainable Degradation of Lignocellulosic Biomass-Techniques, Applications and Commercialization, edited by Chandel, A.K. & da Silva, S.S. United Kingdom: IntechOpen. pp. 207-247.

Enzmann, F., Mayer, F., Rother, M. & Holtmann, D. 2018. Methanogens: Biochemical background and biotechnological applications. AMB Express 8(1): 1-22.

Hamzah, M.A.F., Jahim, M.J., Abdul, P.M. & Asis, A.J. 2019. Investigation of temperature effect on start-up operation from anaerobic digestion of acidified palm oil mill effluent. Energies 12(13): 2473.

Hasanudin, U., Sugiharto, R., Haryanto, A., Setiadi, T. & Fujie, K. 2015. Palm oil mill effluent treatment and utilization to ensure the sustainability of palm oil industries. Water Science and Technology 72(7): 1089-1095.

Ibrahim, A.H., Dahlan, I., Adlan, M.N. & Dasti, A.F. 2012. Comparative study on characterization of Malaysian palm oil mill effluent. Research Journal of Chemical Sciences 2(12): 1-5.

Kanokwan, J., Nutthatus, C.A. & Thunwadee, T.S. 2014. Enhancing of methane production from palm oil mill effluent by co-digestion with empty fruit bunch pressed wastewater at mesophilic condition using an Anaerobic batch reactor. SCIENCE PLUS International Conference. pp. 28-30.

Kavitha, B., Jothimani, P. & Rajannan, G. 2013. Empty fruit bunch-a potential organic manure for agriculture. International Journal of Science Environment 2(5): 930-937.

Kheang, L.S., Mohammad, N.F. & Ngan, M.A. 2009. Characterization of palm oil mill effluent (POME) for process control baseline establishment. MPOB Information Series, ISSN.

Mamimin, C., Chanthong, S., Leamdum, C., Sompong, O. & Prasertsan, P. 2021. Improvement of empty palm fruit bunches biodegradability and biogas production by integrating the straw mushroom cultivation as a pretreatment in the solid-state anaerobic digestion. Bioresource Technology 319: 124227.

Nurliyanaa, M.Y., H’nga, P.S., Rasminaa, H., Umi Kalsomb, M.S., Chinc, K.L., Leea, S.H., Luma, W.C. & Khooa, G.D. 2015. Effect of C/N ratio in methane productivity and biodegradability during facultative co-digestion of palm oil mill effluent and empty fruit bunch. Industrial Crops and Products 76: 409-415.

Octiva, C.S., Irvan, M., Sarah, B., Trisakti. & Daimon, H. 2018. Production of biogas from co-digestion of empty fruit bunches (EFB) with palm oil mill effluent (POME): Effect of mixing ratio. Journal of Chemistry 11(2): 791-797.

Pleanjai Somporn, H., Gheewala, S. & Garivait, S. 2004. Environmental evaluation of biodiesel production from palm oil in a life cycle perspective. Asian Journal on Energy and Environment 8(1): 15-32.

Poh, P.E. & Chong, M.F. 2010. Thermophilic palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment using a mixed culture cultivated from POME. Chemical Engineering Transactions 21: 811-816.

Prasertsan, S. & Prasertsan, P. 1996. Biomass residues from palm oil mills in Thailand: An overview on quantity and potential usage. Biomass and Bioenergy 11(5): 387-395.

Purnomo, A., Suprihatin, Romli, M. & Hasanudin, U. 2018. Biogas production from oil palm empty fruit bunches of post mushroom cultivation media. Earth and Environmental Science 141(1): 012024.

Saelor, S., Kongjan, P. & Sompong, O. 2017. Biogas productions from anaerobic co-digestion of palm oil mill effluent and empty fruit bunches. Energy Procedia 138: 717-722.

Schuchardt, F., Wulfert, K., Darnoko. & Herawan, T. 2008. Effect of new palm oil mill processes on the EFB and pome utilization. Journal of Oil Palm Research 20: 115-126.

Srisuda, C., Prawit, K. & Sompong, O.T. 2015. Biogas production from biomass residues of palm oil mill by solid state anaerobic digestion. Energy Procedia 79: 838-844.

Sulaiman, F., Abdullah, N., Gerhauser, H. & Shariff, A. 2011. An outlook of Malaysian energy, oil palm industry and its utilization of wastes as useful resources. Biomass and Bioenergy 35(9): 3775-3786.

Wu, T.Y., Mohammad, A.W., Jahim, J.M. & Anuar, N. 2010. Pollution control technologies for the treatment of palm oil ill effluent (POME) through end-of-pipe processes. Journal of Environmental Management 91(7): 1467-1490.

Yacob, S.Y., Shirai, M.A., Hassan, M., Wakisaka. & Subash, S. 2006. Start-up operation of semi-commercial closed anaerobic digester for palm oil mill effluent treatment. Process Biochemistry 41: 962-964.

Zhao, C. 2011. Effect of temperature on biogas production in anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater UASB system in Hammarby Sjöstadsverk Chengyuan Zhao. Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). MSc Thesis (Unpublished).

*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: norashikin7349@uitm.edu.my