Abstract

Agro based industry such as palm oil mill generates effluent with high nutrient content. Utilisation of the effluent as a source of nutrient for growing water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) could reduce the eutrophication. Then, the harvested water hyacinth can be converted into several useful products such as compost, biogas, animal feed, paper, etc. In this study, the potential of diluted treated palm oil mill effluent (DTPOME) as a source of nutrient for growing water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) was evaluated. It was found that the specific growth rate for the water hyacinth is 0.01834 g g^-1 day^-1 with removal of around 85% ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N). During experimental period, the total suspended solid (TSS), soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, and electrical conductivity (EC) were increased. In conclusion, water hyacinth was found to have the potential in removing nutrient from diluted palm oil mill effluent but the main problem is the presence of lignin and the decomposition by-product.

Keywords: Palm oil mill effluent, nitrogen, wastewater, water hyacinth.