Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the microorganisms associated with palm oil mill effluent (POME) in Johor Bahru
state, Malaysia. Biodegradation of palm oil mill effluents (POME) was conducted to measure the discarded POME based on
physicochemical quality. The bacteria that were isolated are Micrococcus species, Bacillus species, Pseudomonas species, and
Staphylococcus aureus, while the fungi that were isolated are Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida species, Fusarium
species, Mucor species, and Penicillium species. The autoclaved and unautoclaved raw POME samples were incubated for 7 days
and the activities of the microorganisms were observed each 12 hours. The supernatants of the digested POME were investigated
for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), color (ADMI), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) at the end of each
digestion cycle. The results showed that the unautoclaved raw POME sample degraded better than the inoculated POME sample
and this suggests that the microorganisms that are indigenous in the POME are more effective than the introduced microorganisms.
This result, however, indicates the prospect of isolating indigenous microorganisms in the POME for effective biodegradation of
POME. Moreover, the effective treatment of POME yields useful products such as reduction of BOD, COD, and color.
1. Introduction
Palm oil industry has become one of the main Agro-
industries in Malaysia. Palm oil mills release POME in
colossal amounts with its attendant polluting impending.
POME has unfavourable environmental ramifications effects
including land and aquatic ecosystem contamination and
loss of biodiversity and increase in COD and BOD in
environment [1, 2]. Today, the penetration of palm oil mill has
been considered due to its effluents into the waterways and
ecosystems remaining a meticulous concern towards the food
chain interference and water consumption [3]. This can cause
considerable environmental problems if discharged without
effective treatment by polluting land and effectively suffocat-
ing other aquatic life [4]. Thus, palm oil mills are required
to treat their POME prior to discharging it into rivers and
streams. In the process of palm oil milling, POME is mainly
generated from sterilization and clarification of palm oil in
which a large amount of steam and hot water are used [5].
POME is a thick brownish liquid that is compiled with high
concentrations of total solids, oil and grease, chemical oxygen
demand (COD), and biological oxygen demand (BOD) [6].
The biological treatment depends enormously on con-
sortium of microorganism’s activities, which operate the
organic substances present in the POME as supplements
and eventually degrade these organic matters into simple
by-product such as methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen
supplied, and water.The biological treatment process requires
large pond to hold the POME in place for the effective
biodegradation, which regularly takes a few days relying upon
the sort and native of the microorganisms [1]. Besides, so as
to enhance the effectiveness of this medication process, pow-
erful mono or combined culture of feasible fungi and bacteria
in biodegradation treatment of POME waste. Therefore,
the challenge of converting POME into an environmentally
friendly waste demanded an efficient treatment and effective
disposal technique.
