A B S T R A C TDuring the treatment of olive mill wastewater (OMW) by Rhodotorula glutinis, the pH of the medium increases in accordance with cell accumulation and biodegradation. Considering the pH of the medium as an indicator of biodegradation, an operation strategy depending on the pH adjustment of the batch medium with intermittent additions of OMW was developed. The addition of OMW into the biodegradation medium decreased the medium's pH; fresh substrate was provided to the cells and the cells were kept active for biodegradation up to a critical pH value. This approach also provided the biodegradation of high volumes of undiluted OMW. About five-and twofold enhancements in total phenol removal rate were obtained in batch biodegradation but with interval feedings being carried out by free and immobilized cells, respectively, relative to the corresponding batch-wise operations.
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