Biogas production from oil palm empty fruit bunches through dry fermentation process: Preliminary Results

The purpose of this paper was to present a preliminary result of biogas production from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) through dry fermentation process. Research was conducted at Agroindustrial Waste Management Lab. of the Agroindustrial Technology Department, the University of Lampung. Two sources of bacteria were used for comparison, namely fresh cow dung collected from local cow farmer near the university and effluent from a digester working with palm oil mill waste water. The EFB, obtained from Bekri Palm Oil Mill of PTPN VII, was merely shredded prior to fermentation process to facilitate the mixing with bacteria sources. Biogas production was conducted using 220 liter capacity drum digester. Parameters to be observed including biogas production (daily and cumulative), biogas yield (per VS removed), and biogas composition. Results showed that total biogas yield of EFB with cow dung reached 1652 L within 41 days of solid retention time (SRT) and 1235 L from EFB plus effluent with 46 days of SRT. Methane content of the biogas was comparable, namely 36.1% for the case of EFB plus cow dung and 40.1% for EFB plus effluent.