ULM M2ReG Team Creates Palm Waste Processing Membrane Bioreactor

Banjarbaru – The Materials and Membranes Research Group Team at Lambung Mangkurat University (M2ReG ULM) in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan created a membrane bioreactor for a palm oil waste processing factory. “This tool is designed to process POME (Palm Oil Mill Effluent) waste on a bench scale into water, a process that can be reused,” said Prof Muthia Elma as head of the M2ReG research team in Banjarbaru, Sunday (18/3/2024).

Muthia explained that membrane bio-reactors (MBR) use a hybrid sludge method that combines low-pressure driven microfiltration and ultrafiltration for essential solid-liquid separation with biological processing. By processing POME waste, it is hoped that it can reduce negative impacts on the environment and increase the efficiency of waste management in palm oil plantations.

The existence of the POME waste processing equipment has also received a visit from the Committee for the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) at the ULM Faculty of Engineering laboratory.

Prof. Muthia said that after seeing firsthand the POME waste processing process on a bench scale, the BPDPKS committee members expressed their appreciation for the efforts and innovations that had been carried out by the M2Reg team. It is hoped that this technology can be immediately implemented in the field to increase the efficiency and sustainability of POME waste management in oil palm plantations.

“The BPDPKS Committee is also interested in the potential for using biogas fuel from POME waste as an alternative energy that can reduce dependence on fossil fuels,” said Prof. Muthia, Professor of Chemical Engineering at ULM who has obtained four patents from the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI) Ministry of Law and Human Rights for his research work.