Cactus Prickly Pears Extract for Coagulation/Flocculation Processes to Ameliore the Treatment of Olive Mill Waste Waters (OMWW)

Abstract

The oil industry, including olive oil, is one of the industries of food most pollutants, posing a serious environmental problem. In Morocco crushing units pouring the olive oil in their raw state without any prior treatment in the natural environment. These olive mill waste waters are characterized by low biodegradability because of phytotoxic and antibacterial substances (phenols, volatile fatty acids, insecticides…). They contain. This explains the persistence of pollution inherent in the (OMWW) observed over very long distances when they are discharged directly into rivers. Many techniques have been used to eliminate releases of (OMWW). These techniques, such as chemical or biological, are used individually or in combination. These techniques have shown the extent of their performance but also their limitations. This study aims to establish a process to use a novel flocculant and coagulant “Extract of cladodes from cactus “prickly pears” with clay in the coagulation-flocculation treatment. Among the expected subjects of this study: the performance evaluation process of purification and recovery of sludge from olive oil. For the coagulation-flocculation various tests will be conducted with one hand, the conventional coagulants (Ca2 +, Fe3 + and Al3 +) and, on the other hand, alginate, extract of cactus prickly pears, and other flocculants style peel pomegranate. The parameters to be monitored are COD, BOD5, conductivity, pH and total polyphenolic. Their coagulation and flocculation properties can be used to remove particulate inorganic or organic suspensions, and also dissolved organic substances as the polyphenolic compounds. This study gives an overview of the main results obtained in the treatment of various suspensions and solutions.