PALM OIL

Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) is a wastewater byproduct of palm oil production, characterized by its high organic content and potential pollutant to water bodies and capable of causing significant environmental damage. This study therefore seeks to evaluate the treatment methods by coagulation and adsorption processes to remove suspended solids and pollutants, thereby purifying the wastewater for safe discharge or reuse. These methods are essential for environmental protection, resource recovery, and economic sustainability. The POME sample was collected, diluted, and analyzed to determine its physicochemical properties before treatment. Its pH was adjusted to both acidic and alkaline conditions using hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, monitored with pH indicator paper. Processed periwinkle shell powder served as a natural coagulant and adsorbent. Standard laboratory instruments were used to assess parameters such as pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, and salinity before and after treatment. The study evaluated the effects of coagulant dosage, contact time, and pH on the treatment of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) using a periwinkle shell–chitosan composite. Significant reductions in total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity were achieved at moderate dosages (0.55– 0.82 g/L), contact times of 105–150 minutes, and near-neutral pH (7–8.2), showing effective coagulation and adsorption. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed crystalline peaks at 2θ values of 23.9°, 26.5°, 27.5°, 33.4°, 36.4°, 38.1°, 41.4°, 43.1°, 46.0°, 48.6°, 50.5°, and 53.1°, corresponding to aragonite, muscovite, quartz, and orthoclase phases. Crystallite sizes (111–702 Å) confirmed a fine heterogeneous structure with high surface activity, making the composite suitable for efficient and sustainable POME purification

Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) is a wastewater byproduct of palm oil production, characterized by its high organic content and potential pollutant to water bodies and capable of causing significant environmental damage. This study therefore seeks to evaluate the treatment methods by coagulation and adsorption processes to remove suspended solids and pollutants, thereby purifying the wastewater for safe discharge or reuse. These methods are essential for environmental protection, resource recovery, and economic sustainability. The POME sample was collected, diluted, and analyzed to determine its physicochemical properties before treatment. Its pH was adjusted to both acidic and alkaline conditions using hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, monitored with pH indicator paper. Processed periwinkle shell powder served as a natural coagulant and adsorbent. Standard laboratory instruments were used to assess parameters such as pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, electrical
conductivity, and salinity before and after treatment. The study evaluated the effects of coagulant dosage, contact time, and pH on the treatment of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) using a periwinkle shell–chitosan composite. Significant reductions in total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity were achieved at moderate dosages (0.55– 0.82 g/L), contact times of 105–150 minutes, and near-neutral pH (7–8.2), showing effective coagulation and adsorption. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed crystalline peaks at 2θ values of 23.9°, 26.5°, 27.5°, 33.4°, 36.4°, 38.1°, 41.4°, 43.1°, 46.0°, 48.6°, 50.5°, and 53.1°, corresponding to aragonite, muscovite, quartz, and orthoclase phases. Crystallite sizes (111–702 Å) confirmed a fine heterogeneous structure with high surface activity, making the composite suitable for efficient and sustainable POME purification

This study focuses on investigating the physiochemical properties of soap derived from blends of palm kernel and palm oil. The oils underwent an initial analysis to determine their saponification and acid values using established methods. Subsequently, the oils were mixed in various ratios: palm kernel to palm oil (100:0, 0:100, 50:50, 70:30, and 30:70). Each blend was used to produce soap using the hot method approach, followed by the analysis of the resulting soaps for moisture content, pH, hardness, harshness, cleaning properties, and foam ability. The results indicated the saponification and acid values for palm kernel oil were 283.305 mgKOH/g and 4.488 mgKOH/g,
respectively, while for palm oil, they were 221.595 mgKOH/g and 6.732 mgKOH/g, respectively.
The moisture content, pH, hardness, cleaning properties, and formability of the various blends
were as follows: moisture content (35%, 33.5%, 36%, 39.5%, 30.5%), pH(8.95, 8.57, 8.81, 8.99,
9.34), hardness 4.0, 2.8, 3.6, 3.8, 3.4 cm, harshness (all soaps were mild and gentle to the skin
and hands), cleaning property (more effective, effective, more effective, more effective, most
effective), and formability 7.3, 11.4, 12.6, 9.8, and 13.3 cm, respectively. The results demonstrate that soap produced from the 30:70 blend exhibited superior physiochemical and functional properties. Consequently, it is recommended that this particular oil blend be employed
for soap production with sodium hydroxide using the hot method.