Batch Treatment of Palm Oil Mill Effluent
Batch treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) was investigated using physical, chemical and biological methods. Physiochemical parameters such as pH, sulphate (SO42-), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solid (TSS), chloride ion (Cl-), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen (COD) and metals (Fe2+, Zn2+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) concentrations were determined using American Public Health Association (APHA) methods. The results revealed that significant treatment was achieved at each stage. However, the biological method proved to be the best with percentage reductions of 45.6%, 97.6%, 71,0%, 50.1%, 80.4%, 93.8%, 72.0%, 85.4%, 93.2%, 77.7%, 86.2% and 85.7% for pH, SO42-, TS, TDS, TSS, Cl-, BOD, COD, Fe2+, Zn2+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ respectively. The concentrations after treatment were in conformity with the minimum acceptable standard of FEPA and WHO.