JAKARTA – The National Research and Innovation Board (BRIN) has involved the private sector in developing organic chemicals for manufacturing demulsifiers to minimize wastes of palm oil processing.

“The demulsifier is an organic and food-grade chemical that functions to separate the palm oil content in the liquid phase during the production process,” the BRIN’s Environmental Research and Clean Technology Center Head Ario Betha Julianssilfero said in a press statement on Thursday (21/11/2024).

Ario Betha said the demulsifiers are environmentally friendly solutions that can support the sustainability of palm oil industries.

Ario noted that the process of palm oil production in palm oil mills also results in liquid waste known as Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), which should be treated properly. “Every ton of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) of oil palm produces around 600-700 liters of POME,” he said.

According to him, when the POME is dumped into environment, it still contains a small content of suspended palm oil, ranging from 1.5 to 3.6 percent of its total composition.

The formula of developed demulsifiers will initially undergo a laboratory scale to reduce palm oil losses in POME by 0.4 percent to 0.7 percent. The research was funded by the Palm Oil Research Grant received by BRIN.

Then, it will be tested on a field scale at one of the national palm oil mills using demulsification technology.

Underlining the importance of palm oil as one of Indonesia’s top export commodities, Ario emphasized the need of pursuing innovations through collaborative activities, such as focus group discussions, research, and field activities.

“This collaboration is a turning point and momentum for us to further improve our collaborations in the future,” he said. (*) Source: sawitku.id