Journal of Petroleum Gas & Chemical Engineering
ISSN: 3069-2075 | DOI: 10.64030/3069-2075
Loso Judijanto
Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) is an underutilized feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, positioning waste valorization as a game-changing strategy for aviation decarbonization and the implementation of a circular economy. This qualitative literature review synthesizes recent research (2020-2025) from various journals to evaluate the environmental, technological, economic, and policy dimensions of POME-based SAF. Key findings indicate that POME-derived SAF achieves 65-80% lifecycle greenhouse gas emission reductions compared to conventional jet fuel, with 25-30% of climate benefitsderived from avoided methane emissions through improved wastewater management. Hydrothermal liquefaction and hydro processing pathways demonstrate technical feasibility for compliance with ASTM D7566, while anaerobic digestion remains the most commercially mature conversion route. Indonesia and Malaysia's combined POME generation of 119-178 million metric tons annually creates scalable feedstock potential supporting 360-480 million gallons of SAF production—addressing aviation's primary feedstock scarcity constraint. However, economic viability depends critically on policy support mechanisms, including blending mandates, carbon credits, and cost parity subsidies. Critical challenges include certification integrity (fraud prevention), smallholder inclusion, and potential rebound effects from expanded palm oil cultivation. Indonesia's emerging SAF roadmap, export restrictions prioritizing domestic value addition, and investment in biorefinery infrastructure position it as a potential global leader in POME-SAF production. The analysis concludes that POME-based SAF, through integrated technological optimization, strengthened policy frameworks, and inclusive supply chain development, can meaningfully contribute to aviation's decarbonization while demonstrating circular economy principles at scale.