Hydrolyses of Palm Oil Mill Effluent with Fungi and Yeast for Methane Production

Large amount of Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is generated annually in palm oil industry. The objective of study was to evaluate the effect of fermentation stage on methane production. Hydrolyses and fermentation process of POME were expected from introduction of fungi, yeast or co-culture of fungi and yeast, while methanogenesis was performed by inoculation of seed sludge. POME was collected from PTPN VIII, Malimping, West Java, Indonesia. Methane production was initiated with inoculation of 5 persen seed sludge into fermented POME. The microbial inoculants for hydrolyses and fermentation of POME were phylogenetically belong to Candida sp., and Flavodon sp. Co-culture of fungi and yeast was effective to enhance methane production. Fermentation process is effective to increase methane production, and worth implemented in wastewater treatment for generating energy and better effluent quality. Journal of Applied Sciences in Environmental Sanitation, Vol. 9, No. 2. Hal. 85-90 ISSN 0126-2807