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Microalgae Cultivation in Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Treatment and Biofuel Production

Author

Listed:
  • Sze Shin Low

    (Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia)

  • Kien Xiang Bong

    (Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia)

  • Muhammad Mubashir

    (Department of Petroleum Engineering, School of Engineering, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia)

  • Chin Kui Cheng

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates)

  • Man Kee Lam

    (HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
    Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia)

  • Jun Wei Lim

    (HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
    Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia)

  • Yeek Chia Ho

    (Centre of Urban Resource Sustainability, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Malaysia)

  • Keat Teong Lee

    (Engineering Campus, School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal 14300, Malaysia)

  • Heli Siti Halimatul Munawaroh

    (Chemistry Program, Department of Chemistry Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Bandung-Indonesia, Jawa Barat 40154, Indonesia)

  • Pau Loke Show

    (Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia)

Abstract

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is the wastewater produced during the palm oil sterilization process, which contains substantial amounts of nutrients and phosphorous that are harmful to the environment. High BOD and COD of POME are as high as 100,000 mg/L, which endanger the environment. Effective pre-treatment of POME is required before disposal. As microalgae have the ability of biosorption on nutrients and phosphorous to perform photosynthesis, they can be utilized as a sustainable POME treatment operation, which contributes to effective biofuel production. Microalgae species C. pyrenoidosa has shown to achieve 68% lipid production along with 71% nutrient reduction in POME. In this study, a brief discussion about the impacts of POME that will affect the environment is presented. Additionally, the potential of microalgae in treating POME is evaluated along with its benefits. Furthermore, the condition of microalgae growth in the POME is also assessed to study the suitable condition for microalgae to be cultivated in. Moreover, experimental studies on characteristics and performance of microalgae are being evaluated for their feasibility. One of the profitable applications of POME treatment using microalgae is biofuel production, which will be discussed in this review. However, with the advantages brought from cultivating microalgae in POME, there are also some concerns, as microalgae will cause pollution if they are not handled well, as discussed in the last section of this paper.

Suggested Citation

  • Sze Shin Low & Kien Xiang Bong & Muhammad Mubashir & Chin Kui Cheng & Man Kee Lam & Jun Wei Lim & Yeek Chia Ho & Keat Teong Lee & Heli Siti Halimatul Munawaroh & Pau Loke Show, 2021. "Microalgae Cultivation in Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Treatment and Biofuel Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3247-:d:517621
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. Preeti Pal & Kit Wayne Chew & Hong-Wei Yen & Jun Wei Lim & Man Kee Lam & Pau Loke Show, 2019. "Cultivation of Oily Microalgae for the Production of Third-Generation Biofuels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-16, September.
    9. Maria I. Silva & Ana L. Gonçalves & Vítor J. P. Vilar & José C. M. Pires, 2021. "Experimental and Techno-Economic Study on the Use of Microalgae for Paper Industry Effluents Remediation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-29, January.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Su, Guangcan & Mohd Zulkifli, Nurin Wahidah & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Ibrahim, Shaliza & Bu, Quan & Zhu, Ruonan, 2022. "Pyrolysis of oil palm wastes for bioenergy in Malaysia: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    3. Escalante, Jamin & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Tabatabaei, Meisam & Hoang, Anh Tuan & Kwon, Eilhann E. & Andrew Lin, Kun-Yi & Saravanakumar, Ayyadurai, 2022. "Pyrolysis of lignocellulosic, algal, plastic, and other biomass wastes for biofuel production and circular bioeconomy: A review of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).

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