China leading palm oil mill plant machine manufacturer and supplier

Palm oil mill wastewater (POME) is characterized by high oil content, high COD, high SS (suspended solids), and acidity. The mainstream treatment process employs multi-stage oil removal + anaerobic + aerobic + advanced treatment, complemented by biogas recovery and sludge resource utilization.

 Wastewater Quality Characteristics (POME)

COD: 20,000–60,000 mg/L

BOD₅: 10,000–30,000 mg/L

Oil: 500–3,000 mg/L (floating oil, dispersed oil, emulsified oil)

SS: 2,000–5,000 mg/L (fiber, debris)

pH: 4.0–5.5 (acidic)

Temperature: 60–80℃ (high temperature)

Core Process Flow

Raw Water → Bar Screen → Three-Phase Centrifuge → Oil-water Sedimentation Tank → Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) → Equalization Tank (Neutralization/Cooling) → Anaerobic (UASB/IC) → Aerobic (A/O/MBR) → Advanced Treatment → Discharge to Standard/Reuse

1) Pretreatment (Key: Oil Removal, SS Reduction, Homogenization)

Bar Screen: Removes large fibers and fruit peels, protecting equipment.

Three-phase centrifugation: Separates floating oil from solids, recovers crude oil, and reduces oil content to <500 mg/L.

Oil-water separator/sedimentation tank: Removes floating oil and settleable suspended solids (SS), and scrapes off and recovers surface oil.

Dissolved air flotation (DAF): Adds PAC/PAM to remove emulsified oil and fine SS, reducing oil content to <20 mg/L and COD removal to 30%–50%.

Equalization tank: Adds lime/NaOH to neutralize pH to 6.5–7.5; cools to 35–40℃; homogenizes and equalizes volume, buffering load fluctuations.

2) Anaerobic treatment (core: COD reduction, biogas production)

Processes: UASB, IC, EGSB (high load, small footprint). Results: COD reduced from 20,000–40,000 mg/L to 2,000–5,000 mg/L, removal rate 80%–90%; biogas production (CH₄ 60%–70%), calorific value approximately 22–25 MJ/m³, used for boiler/power generation, energy self-sufficiency.

Advantages: Low sludge production (0.02–0.05 kgMLSS/kgCOD), low operating costs.

3) Aerobic Treatment (Deep BOD/COD Reduction, Nitrogen Removal)

Processes: A/O, contact oxidation, MBR (excellent effluent).

Results: COD reduced to <500 mg/L, BOD₅ <100 mg/L; simultaneous nitrification/denitrification nitrogen removal, NH₃-N <15 mg/L.

MBR Advantages: Clear effluent (SS <10 mg/L), directly reusable (for cleaning, cooling).

4) Advanced Treatment (Compliance/Reuse)

Fenton Oxidation: Degrades recalcitrant organic matter and decolorizes, further reducing COD to <100 mg/L.

Sand Filtration/Activated Carbon Filtration: Removes trace amounts of suspended solids (SS) and color, ensuring stable compliance.

Disinfection: Sodium hypochlorite/ultraviolet light kills pathogens.

The equipment list of raw water treatment station

1.Water Clarifier Tank

2.Sand Filter Pump

3.Sand Filter

4.Overhead Water Tank c/w Structural