Degradation of olive mill wastewater (OMW) by means of two chemical oxidation processes (Fenton's reagent and ozonation) and their consecutive treatments with aerobic microorganisms have been studied. Fenton's reagent treatment moderately reduces COD and to a greater extent the polyphenolic compounds. Ozonation contributed to low conversion of COD and moderate reduction of polyphenols. The aerobic biological treatments degrade to values higher than 70% and 90% for COD and polyphenolic compounds, respectively. A kinetic study has been carried out in each process, determining the representative kinetic parameters of each model.

No abstract

No abstract

The degradation of olive mill wastewater by aerobic microorganisms has been investigated in a batch reactor, by conducting experiments where the initial concentration of organic matter, quantified by the chemical oxygen demand, and the initial biomass were varied. The evolution of the chemical oxygen demand, biomass and the total contents of phenolic and aromatic compounds were followed through each experiment. According to the Contois model, a kinetic expression for the substrate utilization rate is derived, and its biokinetic constants are evaluated. This final predicted equation agrees well with all the experimental data.

No abstract