2. Literature Survey 2.1 Overview This chapter consists of an account of crude palm oil mill extraction process, waste generation during the palm oil milling process, treatment of POME and membrane technology, in particular, pertaining to application of ultrafiltration technology in effluent treatment. In Malaysia, palm oil industry as a whole involves oil palm plantations that produce palm fruits, palm oil milling factories that extract crude palm oil from fresh fruit bunches, palm oil refineries that process crude palm oil, and finally down stream factories producing palm oil end products. In this industry, the process of crude palm oil extraction needs a huge amount of resources, particularly water. It also has the greatest risk of polluting the environment if not carried out properly. Thus, in order to protect and manage the environment in a sustainable manner, it is necessary to understand the activities associated with waste production and the treatment technologies associated with the crude palm oil extraction. 2.2 Crude palm oil extraction process Fresh fruit bunches (FFB) received from palm oil plantations are sent to palm oil mill where crude palm oil (CPO) is extracted. They are transported to the mill in lorries or trains, if the plantation is situated near the mill. After arriving at the mill, FFB are rated according to the fruit quality prior to crude palm oil extraction. The following section gives a brief account of the crude palm oil extraction process. Associated flow diagram of the process is shown in Figure 2-1.‘Ae Eola — + Loading Ramp Steritiser [> Sterilizer Condensate Wastewater Stripper |--® Empey Fruit Bunch ¥ Fibre + Shell Digester Press ‘ CRUDE PALM OIL, (CPO) Figure Flow diagram of. i I (Source: Industrial Processes & The Environment Handbook No.3, 1999)() Sterilization Sterilization is the steam-heat treatment for FFB. FFB are placed into sterilizer cages, where the heating atmosphere in the sterilizer reaches a saturated steam pressure of 3 kg/cm? and an average temperature of 140 °C. The duration for sterilization varies from 75 to 90 minutes. This process is essential to accelerate hydrolysis which ripens the fruit; to prevent further enzyme reaction producing free fatty acids; to loosen fruit from spikelets for easier stripping; and to prepare and pre-condition the fruits for further processing. (!) Stripping Sterilized FFB are then sent into a rotary drum-stripper to separate fruits from spikelets. The rotating drum-stripper sweeps the loosen bunches almost to the top and let it drop back by gravity force, shaking out fruits at the same time. Fruitlets thus separated are collected for digestion in the next stage, while the empty bunches are collected separately and sent to incinerator for incineration. (Il) ~~ Digestion The purpose of digestion is to rupture the oil-bearing cells in the mesocorp of fruitlets. The fruitlets are placed in a cylindrical vessel and mashed by rotating arms fixed in the vessel. The operating temperature is set at 90 °C. This is achieved by supplying steam into the vessel. This process prepares the fruits for the following oil extraction process.