Characteristics and biodegradability of olive mill wastewaters

Abstract

Olive mill wastewaters (OMWs) are mostly characterized by their high-organic content and complex organic compounds in addition to the phenolic compounds. European olive oil manufacturers have to cope up with the same wastewater treatment problem and the applied conventional treatment technologies for OMW were not proved to be very successful in each case. Olive mills are mostly small and medium-sized installations and OMW is generated during the three-four-month-long manufacturing season. The problem is not only the complex wastewater to be treated but also the scattered positioning of the olive mills, the seasonal wastewater generation and the size of the manufacturing facilities. The aim of the study is to identify the organic content of OMW and to assess the biological and chemical treatability of OMWs, in order to assist the development of integrated chemical-biological treatment schemes for best appropriate techniques implementation. The experimental studies show that separation of the particulate fraction improved the biodegradability or reduced the refractory and inhibitory effects of particulate organics.

Biodegradation of pretreated olive mill effluent in mixture with a domestic sewage or compatible wastewater stream

“…Biodegradability of the OMW when mixed into a wastewater was essentially tested on the basis of oxygen uptake rate (OUR) profiles generated in respirometric measurements, as in many similar studies . Experiments included an initial run conducted with only peptone mixture addition, which served as the control for all the other mixtures containing pretreated OMW in selected dilutions.…”

Antimicrobial Activities of Olive Oil Mill Wastewater Extracts against Selected Microorganisms

“…Furthermore, pomace can also be used as a fertilizer as it provides macro and micro elements that stimulate plant growth [3], and its antimicrobial actions make it effective against plant pathogens due to its antimicrobial actions [4]. On the other hand, the liquid waste rich in phenolic compounds have low pH and plant toxicity with its high organic load and high COD contents [5,6]. In addition, the liquid waste causes environmental pollution and threatens natural aquatic life due to its characteristic odor and dark black-brown color [7].…”

“…Sustainability 2023, 15, 8179 2 of 12 [4]. On the other hand, the liquid waste rich in phenolic compounds have low pH and plant toxicity with its high organic load and high COD contents [5,6]. In addition, the liquid waste causes environmental pollution and threatens natural aquatic life due to its characteristic odor and dark black-brown color [7].…”