{"id":31962,"date":"2026-09-03T11:05:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T04:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gapki.id\/en\/?p=31962"},"modified":"2026-09-03T11:06:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T04:06:03","slug":"pome-the-potential-driver-of-circular-economy-in-palm-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gapki.id\/en\/news\/2026\/09\/03\/pome-the-potential-driver-of-circular-economy-in-palm-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"POME: The Potential Driver of Circular Economy in Palm Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

POME, which stands for Palm Oil Mill Effluent,<\/em> is a liquid waste resulted from the processing of palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) into palm oil at palm oil mills (PKS). Actually, although categorized as waste, the POME has big potential to be reused, especially as a source of biogas, renewable energy, organic fertilizer, and functions as part of the green practices of \u00a0circular economy in the palm oil industry.<\/p>\n

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Utilizing the POME the right way becomes an important part of Indonesian palm oil industry\u2019s efforts to maintain the quality of environment and increase the efficiency of utilizing resources.<\/p>\n

What is POME?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

POME stands for Palm Oil Mill Effluent, which is the liquid waste generated during the processing of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) of oil palm trees at palm oil mills.<\/p>\n

The waste primarily originates from various stages of Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) processing, including sterilization, clarification, and other separation processes. POME is characterized by a high organic matter content, necessitating treatment before it is discharged into the environment.<\/p>\n

The volume of generated POME is also substantial as large quantities are produced during palm oil processing, making its management a critical aspect of mill operations.<\/p>\n

Why POME needs to be processed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

POME has a high content of organic matter as reflected in parameters such as BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), and TSS (Total Suspended Solids).<\/p>\n

If POME is discharged directly without appropriate treatment, this organic matter can deplete dissolved oxygen in water bodies. This condition has the potential to harm aquatic organisms and degrade environmental quality.<\/p>\n

Therefore, POME cannot be treated like ordinary wastewater. Palm oil mills require treatment systems designed to reduce pollutant loads to levels that comply with applicable quality standards.<\/p>\n

How POME processed in palm oil mills?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Generally, the POME processing is undertaken through a number of stages to separate the oil, the solids, and break down the organic matter.<\/p>\n

Following are several stages usually applied:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Fat Pits and primary sedimentation<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The initial stage aims to separate residual oil and solids still present in the wastewater.<\/p>\n

    The recovered oil can be collected and reused, ensuring that not all material entering the treatment system becomes waste.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Anaerobic treatment<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      At this stage, microorganisms decompose organic matter in the absence of oxygen.<\/p>\n

      The anaerobic process is crucial because in addition to reducing the organic content of POME, it also produces biogas containing methane.<\/p>\n

      Technologies that can be employed include CSTR (Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor) systems, UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactors, and covered anaerobic lagoons.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Further Processing <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Following the anaerobic process, POME may undergo further stages of treatment, such as facultative, aerobic, and sedimentation processes.<\/p>\n

        The objective is to reduce pollutant parameters so that the wastewater quality meets requirements prior to discharge into the environment or utilization through approved systems.<\/p>\n

        POME can produce biogas<\/strong><\/h2>\n

        One of the greatest potentials of POME lies in biogas production. When the organic matter in POME is anaerobically decomposed by microorganisms, biogas typically with a high methane content is generated.<\/p>\n

        This methane can be utilized as an energy source.<\/p>\n

        Its applications include:<\/p>\n