Durain Parmanoan, Anni Faridah, Bambang Trisakti, Rivaldi Sidabutar, Irvan, Vikram Alexander, M. Thoriq Al Fath, Nisaul Fadilah Dalimunthe, Hiroyuki Daimon, Mohd Sobri Takriff
The composting process of palm oil empty fruit bunches (EFB) and Azolla microphylla, supplemented with active organic fertilizer (AOF), presents an alternative method for utilizing solid palm oil mills waste. The purpose of this study is investigate the turning frequencies effect during composting on the degradation rate of EFB and Azolla microphylla using AOF in a basket composter to produce high-quality compost. The process involves cutting EFB to 1–3 cm pieces, mixing it with Azolla microphylla in an 80:20 ratio, and adding AOF to achieve an optimal moisture content (MC) of 55–65%. MC is maintained at these levels by periodically adding AOF. The turning frequencies tested include once per day, every 2 days, every 3 days, every 4 days, and every 5 days. Analyzed parameters were temperature, MC, pH, water holding capacity (WHC), volatile suspended solids, electrical conductivity (EC), and C/N ratio. Results indicate it takes 30 days to generate compost, with the optimal degradation of EFB and Azolla microphylla achieved at a turning frequency of once every 2 days, yielding values of pH 8.7, MC 55.72%, WHC 77%, EC 2746 µS/cm, and a C/N ratio of 14.83. © (2025), (Polskie Towarzystwo Inzynierii Ekologicznej (PTIE)). All rights reserved.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, 25171, Indonesia; Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, 25171, Indonesia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Jl. Almamater Kampus USU, Medan, 20155, Indonesia; Waste-to-Industrial Sustainable Energy Center, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, 20155, Indonesia; Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, 441-8580, Japan; Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah Emirate, 61467, United Arab Emirates
