Changes in the microbiota during biological treatment of palm oil mill waste: A critical review.

Palm oil mill waste has a complex cellulosic structure, is rich in nutrients, and provides a habitat for diverse microbial communities. Current research focuses on how the microbiota and organic components interact during the degradation of this type of waste. Some recent studies have described the microbial communities present in different biodegradation processes of palm oil mill waste, identifying the dominant bacteria/fungi responsible for breaking down the cellulosic components. However, understanding the degradation process's mechanisms is vital to eliminating the need for further pretreatment of lignocellulosic compounds in the waste mixture and facilitating the commercialization of palm oil mill waste treatment technology. Thus, the present work aims to review microbial community dynamics via three biological treatment systems comprehensively: composting, vermicomposting, and dark fermentation, to understand how inspiration from nature can further enhance existing degradation processes. The information presented could be used as an umbrella to current research on biological treatment processes and specific research on the bioaugmentation of indigenous microbial consortia isolated during the biological degradation of palm oil mill waste. [Display omitted] • Necessitate to foster biodegradation of various palm oil mill waste at the industrial level. • Monitoring the interaction between microbiota and organic components is the key factor. • The microbial community shifts during different stages of aerobic/anaerobic phases. • Bacteria secret specific enzymes associated with the degradation of different waste biomass. • Bioaugmentation of microbial consortium enhances the efficient production of biofuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]