Palm Oil Mill Wastewater Treatment | A Greener Path Through Innovation and Resource Recovery
kunyapak
Jul 15
3 min read
Palm oil is the most widely produced vegetable oil in the world, yet the wastewater generated during its production presents a major environmental challenge.
Palm Oil Wastewater
Palm oil mill effluent (POME) contains high concentrations of organic matter, oil & grease, suspended solids, and trace heavy metals. If left untreated, it can severely damage aquatic ecosystems and water bodies.
In this blog, we explore the current state of palm oil wastewater treatment, key innovations, and the growing trend toward resource recovery and zero discharge.
Challenges in Treating Palm Oil Wastewater
🚫Complex composition typically contains 30–50% oil, high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), as well as lignocellulose, proteins, and fibers that are difficult to degrade.
💰High treatment costs Traditional multi-stage treatment systems consume large amounts of energy and chemicals. Many mills struggle to meet environmental discharge standards due to cost constraints.
🌏 Rising environmental pressure with countries like Indonesia and Malaysia tightening environmental regulations, there's an urgent need to upgrade treatment technologies to meet stricter sustainability targets.
From "Pollution Control" to "Resource Recovery"
Mainstream and Emerging Treatment Technologies
Traditional 3-Step Process
Pre-treatment Oil separators and screening remove coarse particles and reduce treatment load.
Biological Treatment Anaerobic + aerobic systems allow microbes to degrade organics. COD removal rates can reach 80–90%.
Advanced Polishing Techniques like membrane filtration or activated carbon adsorption further reduce pollutants and ensure discharge compliance.
Technological Breakthroughs
Electrochemical Oxidation (EO)EO processes (like YASA ET’s PREDEST systems) use electric current to break down persistent organics such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, improving biodegradability.
Membrane Bioreactors (MBR)Combine biological treatment with membrane separation. Compact footprint, highly efficient, and ideal for high-load POME.
Resource Recovery New systems convert organics into single-cell protein for feed or extract residual oil for industrial reuse — creating value while reducing pollution and GHG emissions.
Toward Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
With government backing, palm oil producers in Indonesia and Malaysia are now piloting full-scale ZLD strategies based on:
Water Reuse: Treated water used for cleaning and irrigation.
Energy Recovery: Biogas from anaerobic digestion powers plant operations.
Byproduct Utilization: Residual oil used as chemical feedstock; sludge composted or turned into bricks.
YASA ET's Electrocoagulation (EC) Technology
YASA ET supports this transition with modular, customizable ZLD systems that combine EC/EO pre-treatment, EVADEST evaporators, and SOLIDEST crystallizers for total recovery and zero discharge.
What’s Next: Smart & Sustainable Systems
🌐 AI & IoT Integration Smart controllers can now monitor water quality in real-time and optimize system parameters automatically — reducing energy consumption and human error.
📈 Policy as a Catalyst Indonesia’s B40 biodiesel policy (by 2025) will drive further growth in palm oil production, placing even more pressure on wastewater systems to innovate.
🤝 Localization & Global Collaboration Institutions like CATAS in China are breeding new high-yield palm varieties suited for northern regions. Matching wastewater treatment solutions must evolve alongside planting practices.
Conclusion: Green Growth for the Palm Oil Industry
Palm oil wastewater is not just an environmental burden — it's a gateway to sustainable transformation.
From traditional treatment to resource recovery, from standalone systems to smart automation, every innovation paves the way for a cleaner, circular future. With the right technology, policies, and collaboration, "turning waste into value" is not just a slogan — it’s a roadmap.
🔎 Explore how YASA ET’s EC, EO, and ZLD solutions can support your palm oil facility.
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