Physicochemical Characterization and Valorization of Tunisian Olive Oil Mill Wastewater Sludge in Ceramic Product

Abstract

This study describes the introduction of the effluent olive mill wastewater sludge (OMWS) with a grain size lower than 1 mm into the fired laboratory produced clay bricks. In Tunisia, a set of olive oil production factories produce OMWS in large quantities. Currently, in Sfax (Tunisia), the OMWS has been stored into basin of storage, even though presenting a high toxicity which causes pollution to the environment. After characterization, the Tunisian OMWS was introduced into the clay bricks with mass percentages of 0, 3, 6, 8 and 10. The samples prepared with OMWS were found to be comparable in properties and performance to a control product, without OMWS, as adjuvant. The prepared samples were undergone physico-chemical, mechanical and environmental tests. The obtained results showed that with 6% OMWS, the clay-bricks successfully satisfied the standard requirements. Introduction of OMWS in clay-bricks can be considered as a promising solution to valorize this effluent (OMWS).