My contribution to the site supervision was initially assigned as the technical committee for the national funding, known as TechnoFund research grant under Ministry of Science and Technology (MOSTI). The project was involved with many stakeholders under a join-collaboration works between institutional-industrial-governmental partnerships. The project was located in Pertubuhan Peladang Negeri Johor (PPNJ’s) palm oil mill in Kahang, Kluang Johor. The location has been selected because the commitment of the factory to comply their wastewater discharges, which usually hard to achieve the discharge limits (especially COD, color and nutrient contents). During our first task given, all members were discussed and proposed the concept paper on the planning of the sustainable treatment in palm oil. Based on our knowledge, no other similar study has been conducted to fulfil the requirement of ‘zero discharge’ from palm oil industry, except via literature and report written. No such exercise and actual practice on the similar proposal, so far
My task was prepared a conceptual design of SBR-PHA (modified process of existing SBR system) for the production of biodegradable plastic from POME using the existing concept of actual SBR. Meanwhile, the design of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) was also calculated to ensure the optimization of carbon-to-nutrient feedings for PHA production rate. However, the UASB was then replaced by the Anaerobic Oxidation Pond Reactor (AOPR) after cost implication and efficient technique of biogas collection. In the beginning, the design was based on the selected textbook and other practices of the existing similar design. As no other similarities of the project in the country, the design calculation has been verified by the special task force of professional engineers, from the civil and mechanical backgrounds. The industry partners include Sakti Suria Sdn Bhd (contractors), Pertubuhan Peladang Negeri Johor (PPNJ, factory) and UTM. As shown in the photo collection (year of 2004 – 2006), our first field trip was evaluated on the site suitability, the final complete treatment plant consists of anaerobic treatment, SBR, membrane bioreactor (MBR) and constructed wetlands. With a help from established professional engineer (Ir. Aziz Jidon and Ir. Zulkifli Md Rani), the set of drawing and technical assessment have been completed. Our pilot plant was started approximately before end of 2007, with the geotechnical and soil tests were conducted by Sakti Suria Sdn Bhd. Since then, the site visit and technical supervision was carried out every month, to ensure the smoothness of the construction activity. Every time of the site visit, we were discussed on the progress matter and any related issue raises. Most of the problems were confirmed by the changes of technical calculation and some modification on the existing drawing. Since the cost of construction is increasing, the committee decided to modify the pilot plant layout.
