Determinants of Volume of POME Generation in Palm Oil Mills for Planning Wastewater Recovery in Biogas Energy Development

Wastewater volume is a necessary prerequisite for planning transformation to valuable resource and averting environmental degradation. This study investigated the dynamics of POME volume generation in palm oil mills in relation to types of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs), seasons, milling scales and volume of crude palm oil (CPO) produced in ADAPALMS and catchment communities, Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Imo State. The eight catchment communities of ADAPALMS were categorised into three strata in relation to the number of small-scale mills in each community (1-5mills, 6-10mills, and 11-15mills). In each stratum, a community was randomly sampled. A total of nine small-scale mills were sampled from the three sampled communities (Ohoba, Amafor and Etekwuru) in proportion to the average number of mills in each stratum. The lone medium and large scale mill (ADAPLAMS) in the study area represented the other scales of milling. For small and medium scale mills, the volume of POME generated was measured from the dimensions of the vessels where POME was stored, while that of large scale mill was obtained from industrial records. Data was analysed using multiple linear regression of SPSS. The volume of POME generated is significantly related to milling scales and volume of CPO produced (p< 0.01); R2=0.788. Within small scale mills, the volume of POME is significantly related to types of FFBs (p< 0.01), different small milling scales (p< 0.05), and volume of CPO produced (p< 0.01); R2=0.762. Thus, these independent variables are the principal determinants of POME volume generation in the area. The result has implication on the necessity of predictive models in managing the dynamics of POME volumes for efficient recovery and transformation of the wastewater to bioenergy.