Valorization of solid and liquid wastes from palm oil industry

Abstract Palm oil is the primary source of vegetable oil worldwide, with applications in foodstuff, chemicals, and biodiesel production. Its industrial production generates a vast amount of solid and liquid wastes. The most important solid waste is the oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB), and the liquid waste generated in large amounts is the palm oil mill effluent (POME). Both are rich substrates that can be converted into valuable bioproducts; many new technological approaches are being proposed to achieve such a goal, setting up integrated bioprocesses through the biorefinery concept. In this context, this chapter aims to synthesize the most important aspects of palm oil waste reuse and its conversion into valuable biomolecules, considering the aspects of biorefinery and integrated bioprocesses. Among the most important researches reported in this field, some critical results from the Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Group, at UFPR, Brazil are presented. Highlights for the detailed characterization of OPEFB and POME; comparisons between physico-chemical and biological pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomasses from palm wastes; and perspectives of production of biofuels and high value-added biomolecules, such as nano-silver particles and beta-glucans.