Microbial community dynamics and functional potentials in the conversion of oil palm wastes into biomethane

Oil palm processing generates substantial waste materials rich in organic content, posing various environmental challenges. Anaerobic digestion (AD), particularly for palm oil mill effluent (POME), offers a sustainable solution, by converting waste into valuable biomethane for thermal energy or electricity generation. The synergistic activities of the AD microbiota directly affect the biomethane production, and the microbial community involved in biomethane production in POME anaerobic digestion has been reported. The composition of bacterial and archaeal communities varies under different substrate and physicochemical conditions. This review discusses the characteristics of POME, explores the microbial members engaged in each stage of AD, and elucidates the impacts of substrate and physicochemical conditions on the microbial community dynamics, with a specific focus on POME. Finally, the review outlines current research needs and provides future perspectives on optimizing the microbial communities for enhanced biomethane production from oil palm wastes.

Exploring the potential of thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion between agro-industrial waste and water hyacinth: operational performance, kinetic study and degradation pathway

Anaerobic co-digestion (co-AD) of agro-industrial waste, namely, palm oil mill effluent (POME) and sugarcane vinasse (Vn), with water hyacinth (WH) as co-substrate was carried out in two separate Anaerobic Suspended Growth Closed Bioreactors (ASGCBs) under thermophilic (55 °C) conditions. The highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) and soluble COD reduction in co-AD of POME-WH (78.61%, 78.86%) is slightly higher than co-AD of Vn-WH (75.75%, 78.24%). However, VFA reduction in co-AD of POME-WH (96.41%) is higher compared to co-AD of Vn-WH (85.94%). Subsequently, biogas production peaked at 13438 mL/day values and 16122 mL/day for co-AD of POME-WH and Vn-WH, respectively. However, the methane content was higher in the co-AD of POME-WH (72.04%) than in the co-AD of Vn-WH (69.86%). Growth yield (Y_G), maximum specific substrate utilization rate (r_x,max) and maximum specific biomass growth rate (μ_max) are higher in co-AD of POME-WH, as supported by the higher mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS) and COD reduction efficiency compared to co-AD of Vn-WH. However, methane yield ([Formula: see text]) reported in the co-AD of POME-WH and Vn-WH are 0.2748 and 0.3112 L CH₄/g COD_reduction, respectively, which suggests that WH is a more suitable co-substrate for Vn compared to POME.

Co-digestion of palm oil mill effluent with chicken manure and crude glycerol: biochemical methane potential by monod kinetics

In Thailand, the palm oil industry produces a huge amount of palm oil mill effluent (POME), mostly used for electricity generation through biogas production. Co-digestion with other waste can further improve biogas yield and solve waste management problems. Most previous studies relied on biochemical methane potential (BMP) assay or batch co-digestion to obtain the optimal mixing ratio, ignoring the kinetic part or treat it for sole discussion of the results. This work directly uses mechanistic models based on Monod kinetics to describe the experimental results obtained from the co-digestion of POME (40 ml, BMP = 281.2 mlCH₄/gCODadded)) with chicken manure (CM) (0–50 g) and crude glycerol (Gly) (0–10 ml). The best mixing ratio between CM and POME was 5 gCM: 40 mlPOME (BMP = 276.9 mlCH₄/gCODadded). The best ratio for Gly and POME was 2 mlGly: 40 mlPOME (BMP = 211.9 mlCH₄/gCODadded). Adding Gly only 2 mlGly/40 mlPOME doubled the amount of biogas. Hence, crude glycerol is a good substrate for on-demand biogas output. The co-digestion increases the methane output but with a decreased yield. A multi-substrate Monod model was developed based on the levels of digestion difficulty. A partial-least squared fitting was used to estimate its main parameters. All parameters included in the model passed the significant tests at a 95% confidence level. The model can describe the experimental results very well, predict observable state variables of batch co-digestion, and allow a simple extension for continuous co-digestion dynamics. A limited continuous experiment was conducted to confirm the applicability of the model parameters of POME digestion obtained from BMP tests to predict a continuous AD. The results show good potential but must be carefully interpreted. It is generally possible and practical to directly obtain design and operational parameters from BMP assays based on only accumulated biogas curves and initial and final COD/VS.

Biogas Production Optimization from POME by Using Anaerobic Digestion Process

The aim of this research is to optimize Biogas production from palm oil mill effluent (POME) with organic loading rate (OLR), carbon-to-nitrogen (C / N) ratio and pH using anaerobic processes. This study explores the potential of POME in anaerobic digestion with the perspective to develop a constructive process to treat POME and it can significantly contribute to biogas production. Design of Experiment (DoE) is used to determine the inputs (OLR, C/N, pH) for conducting research to achieve outputs (biogas production). Based on Central Composite Design (CCD), 5 levels of inputs for pH, C/N, and OLR are obtained. The findings of data analysis from Response Surface Methodology (RSM) shows that pH of 6.9, C/N of 30, and OLR of 6 VSS g/L.d have contributed to obtaining 3.8 L/day biogas production from POME. Treating POME anaerobically has proven to be successful because it is value-effective and environmentally friendly. The consequences of the research outcome in terms of environmental pollution are huge. The study suggests implementing a pilot scale study for producing required data is needed in developing economic scale POME treatment plant.

Effect of operating conditions on speciation and bioavailability of trace metals in submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors

This study investigated the effect of changes in pH (7, 6.5 and 6), hydraulic retention time (HRT) (6h, 4h, and 2h), solids retention time (SRT) (100d and 25d) on the speciation of trace metals (TMs) in submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (SAMBRs). The results showed that the metal retention capacity of SAMBRs reduced when the pH, HRT and SRT were reduced i.e. up to 21.9%, 39.1%, and 17.1%, respectively, but it was also found that the speciation of these TMs generally shifted towards highly bioavailable fractions i.e. Soluble and Exchangeable. The degree of shifting in speciation depended on the affinity of the TMs for anaerobic sludge and their sensitivity to the changes. TMs with the most and the least significant changes in speciation were Fe and Mn, respectively.

Degradation of cationic and anionic dyes in coagulation–flocculation process using bi-functionalized silica hybrid with aluminum-ferric as auxiliary agent

Cationic dye (methylene blue) and anionic dye (methyl orange) degradation in the coagulation process was demonstrated.

Methane-rich biogas production from waste-activated sludge with the addition of ferric chloride under a thermophilic anaerobic digestion system

Three ferric salts, i.e. Fe(NO₃)₃, Fe₂(SO₄)₃ and FeCl₃ were introduced to test the potential effects on sludge thermophilic anaerobic digestion, and a favourable environment was created with the addition of FeCl₃.