Zero Discharge Performance of an Industrial Pilot-Scale Plant Treating Palm Oil Mill Effluent

Table 3

Characteristics of POME samples from each biological treatment unit.

Index (mg/L)	EQ tank	EGSB effluent	DAF effluent	Aerobic effluent	MBR
BOD3	30314 ± 1803	3564 ± 704	1335 ± 107	16 ± 4	13 ± 5
COD	71179 ± 8811	12341 ± 843	3587 ± 379	579 ± 112	530 ± 95
Suspended solids	32406 ± 2734	11456 ± 2734	1154 ± 82	62 ± 5	ND
Volatile fatty acid (as acetic acid)	/	537 ± 128	/	/	/
Total alkalinity (as CaCO3)	/	5448 ± 229	/	/	/

Note: all data were shown as means ± standard deviation of all samples. ND: not detectable; /: not provided.