Utilizations of Palm Oil Mills Wastes as Source of Energy and Water in the Production Process of Crude Palm Oil

Abstract

Palm oil mills in their production process require a large amount of energy and water. Scarcity and enormous costs of energy and water become factors that may limit the future production of crude palm oil (CPO). On the other hand, demands for palm oil and its derivatives are increasing. Therefore, a number of research on energy and water by utilizing biomass produced by fresh fruit bunches (FFB) are necessary to develop. Analysis on the energy and mass balance of palm oil mills was carried out ??to obtain accurate information on the needs and the potential of energy and water from the wastes generated. Analysis on the energy and mass balance of palm oil mills was carried out ??to obtain accurate information on the needs and the potential of energy and water from the wastes generated. The results of the analysis of the energy and mass balance show that the potential of the total solid wastes generated by the palm oil mills with a capacity of 30 tons/hr are equal to 16,090.09 kg/hr or equivalent to 53.63% of the fresh fruit bunches with the composition of empty fruit bunches (26.97%), fibers (17.67%) and shells (6.46%), while the liquid wastes generated are equal to 18,113.15 Kg/hr (%) with the composition of mud (18.38%) and water (42.05%). The palm oil mills required To supply energy for palm oil mills, the solid wastes can be converted into biohydrogen, biogas and bioethanol, while the liquid wastes can be converted into biogas and biohydrogen as well as water sources.

Keywords: oil palm, energy, water, equilibrium