[01] Ogunsina Olabode Isaiah, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria. [02] Akintan George Blessing, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environmental and Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

In recent decades, Okitipupa area has been known as one of the leading producer area and exporters of palm oil products in ondo state. Every year, the number of palm oil mills increases rapidly, thus increasing the capacity of fresh fruit bunch waste or effluent discharge and the pollution caused by waste materials from the palm oil mills has become a major environmental concern. However, not much has been said about the negative effects of such a huge industry. This report reviews the environmental impacts of palm oil mill effluents generated from oil palm processing and how they can be efficiently managed through biological and environmental tools. The processing of oil palm generates three (3) major waste streams including gaseous (pollutant gases), liquid (palm oil mill effluent, POME) and solid (palm press fibre, chaff, palm kernel shell and empty fruit bunch) wastes. POME has been the most environmental problem, among all the others. It contains high pollution indicators such as oil and grease; it also impacts on the soil and water properties as well as climate changes. Discharging POME into the soil tampers with its pH, which is one of the major factors affecting nutrient availability to plants. POME also changes the soil appearance and properties in terms of vegetation, odour, colour and constitution, making the soil to lose its vegetative cover. It also interferes with the greenhouse effect emissions and also air pollution, biodiversity loss. The discharge of POME on the soil and surrounding lands can also contaminate the aquatic ecosystem during runoff, leading to acidification and eutrophication. The paper concludes by suggesting options for effective management such as the use of POME for microalgae cultivation, the use of pre-treated POME as fertilizer; focusing on phytoremediation, bioremediation and mycoremediation of POME-contaminated soil and water as options for the rehabilitation of POME-contaminated soils and waterbodies.

POME, Biological & Environmental Tools, Phytoremediation, Bioremediation, Mycoremediation

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