Optimization of POME treatment process using microalgae and ultrafiltration

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) was produced in huge amounts in Malaysia, and if it discharged into the environment, it causes a serious problem regarding its high content of nutrients and high levels of COD and BOD concentrations. This study was devoted on POME treatment and purification using an integrated process consisting of microalgae treatment followed by membrane filtration. The main objective was to find the optimum conditions as retention time and pH in the biological treatment of POME. Since after the optimum conditions there is a diverse effect of time and the process become costly. According to our knowledge, there is no existing study optimized the retention time and percentage removal of nutrients for microalgae treatment of POME wastewater. In order to achieve with optimization, a second order polynomial model regression coefficients and goodness of fit results in removal percentages of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), orthophosphorous (PO₄^-3), COD, TSS, and turbidity were estimated. WinQSB technique was used to optimize the objective function of the developed model, and the optimum conditions were found. Also, ultrafiltration membrane is useful for purification of POME samples as verified by experiments.