Chapter 42 - Treatment and valorization of olive mill wastewater

Abstract

Health-promoting impacts of olives and olive oil have fueled the fast expansion of the corresponding agro-industrial activities throughout the world, the Mediterranean region in particular. In olive mills, large amounts of resources are consumed and great deals of solid and liquid residues are inevitably formed. The olive mill wastewater (OMW) is an important by-product of olive oil production from both environmental and valorization potential points of view. Due to its high organic load, increased biological-to-chemical oxygen demand, low biodegradability, and high levels of recalcitrant and phytotoxic substances, OMW is an environmentally problematic effluent. On the other hand, it is a rich source of phenolic compounds with promising biological properties. Consequently, both treatment and valorization of this wastewater have been the focus of research during the past two decades. In this chapter, we present an overview of the advances in process of olive oil production, where OMW is originated from. Then, by introducing the chemical composition of OMW, advances in treatment and valorization of OMW as well as potential applications of OMW biophenols are concisely explained.