In a process improvement study in anaerobic ponds of a palm oil mill in Malaysia, ACTI-Mag increases the volume of biogas produced and thus the financial returns from its conversion into heat or electricity.
case study summary
Challenges
- Low palm oil mill effluent (POME) flow from a palm oil mill
- Low POME flow was leading to poor biotreater efficiency and biogas production
- Blockages from the formation of magnesium / ammonium / phosphate (“struvite”) crystals
Objectives
- Increase biogas production in anaerobic ponds
- Eliminate blockages by stopping struvite
formation on critical infrastructure
Solution
Solution
ACTI-Mag, with its unique high surface area and high localised pH surface, is able to break down complex organic matter by hydrolysis into smaller units. This allows the biological system to convert organic matter into biogas more quickly, and improve the quality.
Download the PDF NowBenefits of ACTI-Mag
Increased biogas production
Increased power generation
Less hard scum in the mixing pit
Reduction of pipe blockages due to struvite
INTRODUCTION
Biogas is formed naturally when palm oil mill effluent (POME) decomposes in the absence of oxygen. Unharnessed, this gas is an unwanted, potentially hazardous contributor to global climate change.
Biogas is typically composed of 50–75% methane (CH4), 25–45% carbon dioxide (CO2), and trace amounts of other gases. When POME collection is uncontrolled, methane is released directly into the atmosphere. As a greenhouse gas (GHG), methane is 21 times more powerful than CO2.
Biogas plants, on the other hand, take advantage of this natural decomposition process to generate electricity. Organic liquid wastes generated during palm oil production represent a major untapped source of energy. So converting POME emissions to biogas for combustion can produce energy, as well as significantly reduce the climate change impacts of palm oil production.
Palm oil production is vital for the economy of Malaysia, which is the world’s second largest producer of the commodity after Indonesia. Grown over 4.2 million hectares and traded in 160 different countries, palm oil growth and production provides jobs to more than half a million people in Malaysia. Forty percent of palm oil cultivation in Malaysia is owned by nearly 640,000 small land holders, also helping to alleviate poverty.
The large and rapidly growing palm oil industry demands better agricultural, industrial and sustainability practices. Capturing and converting biogas to energy, offers one way for palm oil mills to reduce their environmental impact and create renewable energy at the same time.
In this trial, Calix demonstrated that the dosing of ACTI-Mag not only improves the quality and quantity of biogas produced from POME, but can also alleviate the formation of struvite. Struvite forms in anaerobic digesters and, if left untreated, can turn into rock like formations and heavily restrict flow through pipes and can clog equipment.
Biogas Volume up by 20%
Increased power generated from biogas
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