BIODEGRADATION OF VARIOUS OIL PALM FIBRE WASTE VIA VERMICOMPOSTING

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Date
2011-02
Authors
ZAINAL, NAllRUL HAYAWIN
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Abstract
A study of the biodegradation of various palm oil mill wastes, viz. empty fruit bunch (EFB), oil palm frond (OPF), oil palm trunk (OPT) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) using earthworm species Eudrilus Eugeniae (Eeugeniae) and Eiseniafetida (Efetida) was conducted under laboratory conditions. Earthworms were weighed weekly and the numbers of cocoons produced per week were assessed. The oil palm biomass was vermicomposted for 84 days under controlled conditions (25 ± 1°C). 5 g of clitellated adult worms Eeugeniae and Efetida were adCed to vermicomposter. In the study of the effects of the earthworms' digestability towards the major lignocellulotic component (cellulose and lignin) of the EFB in the vermireactors (EFB WORM), results showed significant degradation rate of the cellulose. A similar trend was also observed for the lignin degradation. Meanwhile, lower percentages of the lignocellulosic degradations were observed for the control reactor (without earthworms). The vermicomposts were rich in nitrogen and phosphorus and had low levels of heavy metals. Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed the morphological structure of the oil palm fibre wastes before and after vermicomposting. The data revealed that vermicomposting (using Eeugeniae) is a suitable method for the decomposition of oil palm wastes into value added material, especially for EFB rather than op~r and OPF. The next stage was to determine the growth and reproduction of Efetida and E.eugeniae to evaluate their suitability for vermicomposting of EFB when amended with POME. A total of six vermicomposters filled with different ratios of EFB and POME were maintained for this study under laboratory conditions. Physico-chemical properties of both solid (vermicast) and liquid (vermileachate) were monitored for 12 weeks. Efetida appeared as more efficient than E eugeniae in terms of palm oil mill mineralization rate. The growth and cocoon production were also better in Efetida for EFB wastes. Highest value of total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) was recorded in 50% EFB + 50% POME (V 6) feed mixture containing vermicomposter. A significant decrease in C/N ratio and increase in total phosporus (TP), total potassium (TK), calcium and magnesium content were recorded. The heavy metal content was higher in vermicompost obtained in all the reactors than in the initial feed substrates. Overall, V 6 vermibed appeared as an ideal substrate to manage oil palm industrial waste effectively. Vermicomposting can be proposed as a low-input basis technology to convert industrial waste into value-added biofertilizer.
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OIL PALM FIBRE
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