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.
Description
Keywords
OIL PALM FIBRE