Dr. Liew Wai Loan
School of Professional and Continuing Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia
Dr. Liew Wai Loan, Eng. Tech. (BEM/T14041) received his BTech (Hons) Environmental from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu in 2010. In 2017, he received his PhD degree in Civil engineering, majoring Environmental engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. That same year, he joined the School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia as a senior lecturer. He is a PSMB Certified Trainer (TTT/19577), regularly conducting professional training courses on effective management skills on Industrial Effluent Treatment System (IETS) operation for environmental practitioners of various industries. His research interests include wastewater treatment processes (high rate biological systems), wastes conversion or recycling, experimental design and process optimization, environmental microbiology, environmental impacts modelling, and environmental processes modelling. He has served as Acting Head of Department in Centre for Degree Programmes, SPACE, UTM. Currently, Dr. Liew is the Senior Manager for Research Management Unit in Quality Management and Alumni Division, UTMSPACE.

Speech Title: Advances, challenges, and future opportunities in palm oil mill effluent treatment

Abstract: Globally, oil palms are planted in approximately 43 countries, with Malaysia as one of the major palm oil producers. In year 2018, Malaysia exported 25 million tonnes of oil palm-based products with a total revenue of RM 68 billion. Countries like India, the European Union, China, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey, and USA are top seven export markets of the Malaysian palm oil. While the industry has vital economic contribution (creates jobs with 1 worker per 8 hectares) and much higher land-use efficiency (3.8 tonnes/hectare for palm oil), issues relating to environmental sustainability keep emerging; thus, causing trade challenges. In response to environmental concerns, plausible efforts have been made. Besides imposing a more stringent effluent discharge limit, the regulatory bodies have been implementing preventive maintenance and performance monitoring of industrial effluent treatment systems (IETSs), in addition to formulating environmental mainstreaming tools to achieve the state of guided self-regulation by the industries. Correspondingly, conceivable research and development efforts have been made towards effluent treatment technology innovations. Some of the efforts include developing zero waste technology, upgrading and elevating performances of effluent polishing plant, wastewater recycling, and implementing total effluent management. This presentation shows improvements and innovations in palm oil mill effluent treatment technologies, identifies issues and challenges to be addressed, and way forward in order to achieve greater environmental sustainability of the palm oil industry.