Aerobic Post-treatment of Different Anaerobically Digested Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)

Abstract

This study presents an investigation of the effect of aerobic post-treatment on different anaerobically digested palm oil mill effluent (POME) using lab scale aerobic digesters. Anaerobically digested POME was collected from anaerobic digesters operated at room temperature, mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, respectively. The experimental results showed the performance of each aerobic digester in term of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biodegradation rate, TSS and VSS removal. Room temperature digested POME was slightly more accessible to COD, TSS and VSS removal than others; whereas thermophilic digested POME was easier to be biodegraded than others.