Vermifiltration Of Palm Oil Mill Effluent
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Date
2014-02
Authors
Ungku Abdul Malek, Tengku Erina
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
The performance of vermifiltration (VF) systems using the Lumbricus
rubellus and Eudrillus eugeniae earthworm in treating palm oil mill effluents
(POME) was studied. In this work, POME is an organic wastewater generated from
the production of crude palm oil that is high in COD, BOD, TSS concentration, low
in pH, oily and has unpleasant odor and is difficult to treat and to comply with the
environmental standard. POME was treated through this system, after which the
changes in pH, COD and TSS were recorded. In vermifiltration system, both
earthworms’ species, Eudrilus eugeniae and Lumbricus rubellus can be used to treat
wastewater. They could remove TSS and COD concentrations in the range of 80%-
97%. The addition of vermicast filter could also increase the percentage of TSS
reduction from 88% to 97% and percentage of COD reduction from 84% to 95%.
The presence of plant showed no effect on water quality of treated POME in
vermifilter with plant and without plant. This study has showed that the presence of
earthworms could aid in increasing the removal efficiency of TSS and COD. TSS
reduction in vermifilter was 95% which is higher than control filter, 87%.
Meanwhile, for COD reduction, vermifilterremoved 91% of COD concentration and
control filter removed only 82%. Based on this study also, it was found that for
vermifiltration system, the most suitable hydraulic loading rate and worm density to
be used in vermifiltration of POME where the efficiency of treatment was more than
90% were at 940 mL/min m2 and 8 g/L respectively.
Description
Keywords
Vermifiltration , Palm Oil Mill