Mass transfer kinetics of chemical oxygen demand removed from palm oil mill effluent in stirred cylinder batch reactor

•Two classification models of SCBR was used to run the experiment.•Analysis of the internal, external and global mass transfers was performed.•Mass transfer resistance of COD removed from POME was determined.•Performance of SCBR process at 100% of the efficiency was predicted.•The exposure of EMF leading to increase the efficiency of SCBR was verified.