Fusion Bonded Epoxy Tank for Palm Oil Wastewater: Designed to handle the high organic content of POME

Palm oil milling is a significant global industry, but it generates a challenging byproduct known as Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME). POME is a dark, viscous liquid characterized by extremely high organic content, high temperatures (often discharged above 80∘C), and a highly acidic nature due to the rapid breakdown of residual oil and organic solids. The high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) demand a specialized treatment process, typically involving large-scale anaerobic digestion. The containment vessels used for POME must be resilient to high heat, corrosive organic acids, and the high pressure generated during biogas production. They must be explicitly designed to handle the high organic content of POME. The Fusion Bonded Epoxy (FBE) Tank is the ideal solution for this environment. At Shijiazhuang Zhengzhong Technology Co., Ltd. (Center Enamel), we utilize FBE technology to deliver robust, high-performance bolted steel tanks that ensure secure, long-term containment throughout the demanding POME treatment lifecycle.

The POME Challenge: High Organic Content and Corrosivity

POME containment presents a unique combination of chemical and physical stressors that rapidly degrade conventional steel or concrete structures:

Extreme Organic Load: POME’s high BOD and COD are due to residual oil, sugars, and suspended solids. When contained, this high organic content leads to rapid anaerobic degradation and the formation of corrosive volatile fatty acids (VFAs), creating an acidic environment that aggressively attacks unprotected tank walls.

High Discharge Temperatures: POME is often discharged directly from the mill at elevated temperatures, which significantly accelerates the rate of corrosion and challenges the integrity of standard coating materials, leading to premature lining failure.

Biogas Byproducts: The most effective treatment for POME involves anaerobic digestion (AD), which produces biogas. However, this gas typically contains corrosive hydrogen sulfide (H2​S). The H2​S forms sulfuric acid on the tank walls above the water line, demanding a coating that is highly resistant to both organic acids and mineral acids.

Structural Volume and Solids: POME treatment requires massive equalization and digestion volumes to manage the continuous mill output. The tanks must be structurally sound to handle these immense loads, often containing high concentrations of solids and sludge.

Environmental Risk: Uncontained or poorly treated POME poses a massive environmental hazard due to its high oxygen-depleting potential. Strict environmental regulations mandate verifiable, leak-proof containment to protect local waterways.

The containment vessel must, therefore, be a durable, high-temperature, and chemically inert reactor capable of enduring the specific conditions necessary for treating POME's high organic content.

The FBE Solution: Designed to Handle High Organic Content

Center Enamel’s Fusion Bonded Epoxy Bolted Steel Tanks are explicitly designed to handle the high organic content of POME and the corrosive conditions of the treatment process. The FBE technology ensures superior performance through key material and application advantages:

Resistance to Organic and Mineral Acids: The FBE coating is a dense, thermoset polymer that is molecularly bonded to the steel. This superior chemical inertness provides an effective shield against the corrosive VFAs generated by POME and the sulfuric acid formed from H2​S during anaerobic digestion.

Temperature Stability: FBE coatings exhibit excellent thermal stability, allowing the tanks to withstand the high temperatures at which POME is often discharged and processed. This resistance prevents softening, cracking, or delamination, which would expose the steel substrate to corrosion.

Non-Reactive Surface for Bio-Processes: The inert FBE surface is non-leaching, ensuring that the tank walls do not inhibit the delicate microbial balance necessary for effective anaerobic digestion. This stability is critical for maximizing biogas yield and treatment efficiency.

Structural Integrity for Digesters: Built from high-strength steel, FBE tanks are engineered to handle the substantial pressure and internal forces created by large volumes of dense POME and the pressures associated with gas-tight AD reactors.

Rapid Deployment and Modularity: The bolted design significantly accelerates the construction of the large-volume equalization and AD tanks required for POME treatment. This modularity allows palm oil mills to quickly implement or expand their sustainable treatment infrastructure with minimal interruption to processing schedules.

Product Industry Application: FBE Tanks in POME Treatment

The durability and specialized chemical resistance of FBE tanks make them essential for several stages of the complex POME treatment and biogas recovery process:

POME Equalization and Cooling Tanks: Used for the initial collection and temperature equalization of raw, hot POME before it enters the biological reactors. FBE's temperature and chemical resistance are crucial in this initial, aggressive stage.

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Reactors: FBE tanks serve as the main, gas-tight vessels for biogas production. Their resilience against high temperatures, corrosive H2​S, and internal pressures makes them ideal for this core process.

Effluent and Sludge Holding: The FBE tanks are utilized for the secure containment of treated effluent, as well as the high-solids sludge generated during the process, ensuring environmental safety before final disposal or utilization.

Biogas and Flare Systems: While primary FBE tanks are containment vessels, the same technology is used in related gas storage equipment, providing secure and corrosion-resistant vessels for handling the corrosive biogas before use or flaring.

Aerobic Polishing: In facilities that include a final aerobic treatment stage, FBE tanks are used as aeration basins, providing a reliable and durable platform for the final reduction of BOD before discharge.

Project Case Studies: FBE Tanks in POME Treatment

Center Enamel has a proven track record of supplying robust bolted steel tanks for complex organic wastewater and biogas projects, including those in the palm oil sector, showcasing our ability to meet the unique structural and chemical demands of POME.

Center Enamel's Role in Sustainable Agro-Industry

Shijiazhuang Zhengzhong Technology Co., Ltd. (Center Enamel) is a leading provider of specialized containment solutions for the agro-industrial sector. Our FBE tanks for Palm Oil Wastewater are manufactured with a commitment to enduring quality, using meticulous surface preparation and a factory-controlled bonding process. We adhere to stringent international standards, guaranteeing that every tank provides maximum structural integrity and corrosion protection against the toughest organic and chemical effluents. Our focus is on providing infrastructure that supports sustainable energy recovery and environmental compliance in the palm oil industry.

Conclusion: Guaranteeing Operational Longevity in POME Treatment

The efficient and environmentally responsible treatment of Palm Oil Wastewater requires a containment solution that is inherently resilient to heat, acid, and high organic load. The Fusion Bonded Epoxy Tank, with its superior, molecularly-bonded coating, is specifically designed to handle the high organic content of POME. It provides the necessary structural stability and chemical inertness for the complex anaerobic digestion process, ensuring maximum biogas recovery and minimizing environmental risk. By choosing Center Enamel’s FBE tanks, palm oil producers invest in a reliable, long-term asset that guarantees continuous compliance and supports a sustainable, circular economy model for their operation.

To deploy a containment system engineered for the high heat and corrosive organic content of POME, choose Center Enamel's Fusion Bonded Epoxy Bolted Steel Tanks. Contact us today to discuss your biogas and wastewater treatment needs.