Start-up Operation of Anaerobic Degradation Process for Palm Oil Mill Effluent in Anaerobic Bench Scale Reactor (ABSR)

The start-up operation or acclimatization process of anaerobic stabilization pond treatment for palm oil mill effluent (POME) was carried out in a laboratory anaerobic bench scale reactor (ABSR). The start-up operation of the ABSR was operated at two different organic loading rates (ORG) of 0.89 – 0.92 kg COD/m3/day and 1.34 – 1.37 kg COD/m3/day which corresponds to hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 60 and 40 days. The investigation showed that the acclimatize process for anaerobic degradation of POME was completed after 48 days of operation. In present study, the indicators that been used were pH, microbial growth, effluent of total chemical oxygen demand (COD), COD removal efficiency, alkalinity and ratio fraction between volatile fatty acid and alkalinity.