Photocatalytic Technology for Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Wastewater Treatment: Current Progress and Future Perspective

Abstract

The palm oil industry produces liquid waste called POME (palm oil mill effluent). POME is stated as one of the wastes that are difficult to handle because of its large production and ineffective treatment. It will disturb the ecosystem with a high organic matter content if the waste is disposed directly into the environment. The authorities have established policies and regulations in the POME waste quality standard before being discharged into the environment. However, at this time, there are still many factories in Indonesia that have not been able to meet the standard of POME waste disposal with the existing treatment technology. Currently, the POME treatment system is still using a conventional system known as an open pond system. Although this process can reduce pollutants’ concentration, it will produce much sludge, requiring a large pond area and a long processing time. To overcome the inability of the conventional system to process POME is believed to be a challenge. Extensive effort is being invested in developing alternative technologies for the POME waste treatment to reduce POME waste safely. Several technologies have been studied, such as anaerobic processes, membrane technology, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), membrane technology, adsorption, steam reforming, and coagulation. Among other things, an AOP, namely photocatalytic technology, has the potential to treat POME waste. This paper provides information on the feasibility of photocatalytic technology for treating POME waste. Although there are some challenges in this technology’s large-scale application, this paper proposes several strategies and directions to overcome these challenges.

Heterostructural TiO2/Ti3C2 MXene aerogel composite for photocatalytic degradation of palm oil mill effluent

“…3,[5][6][7] Furthermore, POME can be difficult in handling, as the production of POME often comes in a massive form and the conventional POME treating method is ineffective where long duration will be needed for POME degradation. 8,9 In Malaysia, POME has been treated conventionally with biological treating system, which is also known as the open ponding treatment. 10 Although having such POME treating system, POME has still been identified as one of the major industrial pollutants in Malaysia.…”

“…3,5–7 Furthermore, POME can be difficult to handle, as the production of POME often occurs on a massive scale and the conventional POME treatment method is ineffective where a long duration is needed for POME degradation. 8,9…”

Heterojunction-based photocatalytic nitrogen fixation: principles and current progress

“… 17–19 Among these approaches, photocatalysis has already been employed in several applications for years with commendable success, such as water treatment, pollutant degradation, bio-organic waste treatment, and bactericidal drugs. 20–22 This diverse range of applications has stimulated great research interest, and as a result, photocatalysis has recently emerged as a promising solution for sustainable environmental nitrogen fixation. In 1977, Guth et al reported on the nitrogen reduction reaction over a TiO 2 photocatalyst and Fe 2 O 3 as a cocatalyst.…”

Photocatalytic Degradation of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Waste Using BiVO4 Based Catalysts

“…The most widely used POME waste treatment is conventional treatment using an open pond system through anaerobic and aerobic decomposition processes. The disadvantage of this system is that apart from requiring a large area of land and a long retention time, it can also emit harmful gases such as methane gas and cause sludge build-up [ 3 ]. Therefore, conventional treatment is very inefficient for treating POME.…”

“…Therefore, conventional treatment is very inefficient for treating POME. In recent years, various treatment methods have been developed to eliminate and reduce POME pollution [ 3 ]. These methods include composting [ 4 ], fermentation [ 5 ], coagulation flocculation [ 6 ], adsorption [ 7 ], flotation, membrane technology [ 8 ], steam reforming [ 9 ], and advanced oxidation processes [ 10 ].…”