Olive Processing Industry, How to Avoid or Minimize the Environmental Impact of Heavy Metals (Case Study: Albania)

Abstract

The development of olive production in Albania is considered as one of the priority branches of agriculture. After the 90s, the number of trees decreased significantly due to the abandonment of non-productive areas, but currently, there is a national plan to increase the planted area. According to forecasts to increase the amount of olives will increase the level of emissions. For this reason, the fate of application processing technologies with minimal impact on the environment should be emphasized. The analysis of these wastes is of interest because they are deposited on agricultural land, reducing productivity and thus affecting the country's economy. This study analyzes the environmental impact of the activity of olive oil processing lines, producing solid waste as secondary and liquid products. A processing plant in Lushnja, Albania was selected for this study. The factory uses 3-phase (3P) processing technology. Samples were taken during the intensive processing period in October-November 2020. Initially, samples were prepared for analysis, determined: number of solids, % of ash, carbon, acidity (pH), and conductivity. Heavy metals were determined at different wavelengths using UV-VIS spectrophotometers. The elements analyzed from the collected samples are K, Na, Mg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Cu. From the graph, the sample is characterized by increasing order: Pb <Cu <Mg <Fe <Zn <Cd <Na <K.