Characteristics of liquid waste from biopulping of oil palm empty fruit bunches using black liquor

Abstract Biopulping is a process that is carried out before fiber ripening using chemicals in the pulp ripening process. The use of black liquor in the biopulping process can reduce pollution due to chemicals. This study aims to determine the effect of black liquor on the characteristics of liquid waste biopulping oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). Observations made include BOD 5 , COD, TSS, and pH. This study used a completely randomized research design with three replications. The research data were analyzed using the F test. If different, it was continued with Duncan’s test at 5%. The results showed that black liquor in the OPEFB biopulping process significantly affected BOD 5 , COD, and pH but had no significant impact on TSS. The resulting waste still needs to be processed because it exceeds the maximum waste generated from the pulp mill based on the Decree of the State Minister of the Environment (KEP 51-/MENLH/10/1995).