Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Degradation and biodegradability improvement of the olive mill wastewater by peroxi-electrocoagulation/electrooxidation-electroflotation process with bipolar aluminum electrodes

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Olive mill wastewater is considered as one of the most polluting effluents of the food industry and constitutes a source of important environmental problems. In this study, the removal of pollutants (chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), polyphenols, turbidity, color, total suspended solids (TSS), and oil and grease) from olive oil mill processing wastewater by peroxi-electrocoagulation/electrooxidation-electroflotation process with bipolar aluminum electrodes was evaluated using a pilot continuous reactor. In the electrochemical unit, aluminum (Al), stainless steel, and RuO2/Ti plates were used. The effects of pH, hydrogen peroxide doses, current density, NaCl concentrations, and reaction times were studied. Under optimal conditions of pH 4, current density of 40 mA/m2, 1000 mg/L H2O2, 1 g/L NaCl, and 30-min reaction time, the peroxi-electrochemical method yielded very effective removal of organic pollution from the olive mill wastewater diluted four times. The treatment process reduced COD by 96 %, BOD5 by 93.6 %, total, polyphenols by 94.4 %, color by 91.4 %, turbidity by 88.7, suspended solids by 97 % and oil and grease by 97.1 %. The biodegradability index (BOD5/COD) increased from 0.29 to 0.46. Therefore, the peroxi-electrocoagulation/electrooxidation-electroflotation process is considered as an effective and feasible process for pre-treating olive mill wastewater, making possible a post-treatment of the effluent in a biological system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adhoum N, Monser L (2004) Decolourization and removal of phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater by electrocoagulation. Chem Eng Process Process Intensif 43:1281–1287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmadi M, Vahabzadeh F, Bonakdarpour B, Mofarrah E, Mehranian M (2005) Application of the central composite design and response surface methodology to the advanced treatment of olive oil processing wastewater using Fenton’s peroxidation. J Hazard Mater 123:187–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Akdemir EO, Ozer A (2009) Investigation of two ultrafiltration membranes for treatment of olive oil mill wastewater. Desalination 249:660–666

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Malah K, Azzam MO, Abu-Lail NI (2000) Olive mills effluent (OME) wastewater post-treatment using activated clay. Sep Purif Technol 20:225–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Antropov LI (1972) Theoretical electrochemistry. Mir

  • Aparicio R, Harwood J (2013) Handbook of olive oil: analysis and properties. Imprint: Springer

  • Association APH, Association AWW (1976) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater

  • Atanassova D, Kefalas P, Petrakis C, Mantzavinos D, Kalogerakis N, Psillakis E (2005) Sonochemical reduction of the antioxidant activity of olive mill wastewater. Environ Int 31:281–287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barash A, Ozer K, Adin A, Milstein D, Gasith A (2009) Electroflocculation–constructed wetland hybrid for improved phosphate removal in effluent reuse, 4th Switch Scientific Meeting. Delft, The Netherlands

  • Bard AJ (2004) Electrogenerated chemiluminescence. CRC Press, US

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G (2004) Electrochemical technologies in wastewater treatment. Sep Purif Technol 38:11–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crognale S, D’Annibale A, Federici F, Fenice M, Quaratino D, Petruccioli M (2006) Olive oil mill wastewater valorisation by fungi. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 81:1547–1555

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dehghani M, Jaafari J, Alghasi A, Porkar G (2011) Using medium pressure ultraviolet reactor for removing azo dyes in textile wastewater treatment plant. World Appl Sci J 12:797–802

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Domınguez J, Botello-Pozos J, López-Ortega A, Ramırez M, Sandoval-Flores G, Rojas-Hernández A (1998) Study of pillar precursors [Ga (III)–Al (III), Ln (III)–Al (III), Zr (IV)] for hydrothermally stable pillared clays. Catal Today 43:69–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fadil K, Chahlaoui A, Ouahbi A, Zaid A, Borja R (2003) Aerobic biodegradation and detoxification of wastewaters from the olive oil industry. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 51:37–41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farhadi S, Aminzadeh B, Torabian A, Khatibikamal V, Alizadeh Fard M (2012) Comparison of COD removal from pharmaceutical wastewater by electrocoagulation, photoelectrocoagulation, peroxi-electrocoagulation and peroxi-photoelectrocoagulation processes. J Hazard Mater 219:35–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao S, Du M, Tian J, Yang J, Yang J, Ma F, Nan J (2010) Effects of chloride ions on electro-coagulation-flotation process with aluminum electrodes for algae removal. J Hazard Mater 182:827–834

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ge J, Qu J, Lei P, Liu H (2004) New bipolar electrocoagulation–electroflotation process for the treatment of laundry wastewater. Sep Purif Technol 36:33–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghezzar M, Abdelmalek F, Belhadj M, Benderdouche N, Addou A (2009) Enhancement of the bleaching and degradation of textile wastewaters by gliding arc discharge plasma in the presence of TiO2/ catalyst. J Hazard Mater 164:1266–1274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanafi F, Assobhei O, Mountadar M (2010) Detoxification and discoloration of Moroccan olive mill wastewater by electrocoagulation. J Hazard Mater 174:807–812

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hodaifa G, Ochando-Pulido J, Rodriguez-Vives S, Martinez-Ferez A (2013) Optimization of continuous reactor at pilot scale for olive-oil mill wastewater treatment by Fenton-like process. Chem Eng J 220:117–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holt PK, Barton GW, Wark M, Mitchell CA (2002) A quantitative comparison between chemical dosing and electrocoagulation. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 211:233–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hong S, Zhang H, Duttweiler CM, Lemley AT (2007) Degradation of methyltertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) by anodic Fenton treatment. J Hazard Mater 144:29–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hongve D, Riise G, Kristiansen JF (2004) Increased colour and organic acid concentrations in Norwegian forest lakes and drinking water—a result of increased precipitation? Aquat Sci 66:231–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang C, Dong C, Tang Z (1993) Advanced chemical oxidation: its present role and potential future in hazardous waste treatment. Waste Manag 13:361–377

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inan H, Dimoglo A, Şimşek H, Karpuzcu M (2004) Olive oil mill wastewater treatment by means of electro-coagulation. Sep Purif Technol 36:23–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kallel M, Belaid C, Boussahel R, Ksibi M, Montiel A, Elleuch B (2009) Olive mill wastewater degradation by Fenton oxidation with zero-valent iron and hydrogen peroxide. J Hazard Mater 163:550–554

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kang YW, Cho M-J, Hwang K-Y (1999) Correction of hydrogen peroxide interference on standard chemical oxygen demand test. Water Res 33:1247–1251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khoufi S, Aloui F, Sayadi S (2006) Treatment of olive oil mill wastewater by combined process electro-Fenton reaction and anaerobic digestion. Water Res 40:2007–2016

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khoufi S, Feki F, Sayadi S (2007) Detoxification of olive mill wastewater by electrocoagulation and sedimentation processes. J Hazard Mater 142:58–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kotti M, Dammak N, Ksentini I, Ben Mansour L (2009) Effects of impurities on oxygen transfer rate in the electroflotation process. Indian J Chem Technol 16:513–518

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange NA (1973) Handbook of chemistry, llth edn. McGraw-Hill Company, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Liou M-J, Lu M-C (2007) Catalytic degradation of nitroaromatic explosives with Fenton’s reagent. J Mol Catal A Chem 277:155–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller CM, Valentine RL (1999) Mechanistic studies of surface catalyzed H2O2 decomposition and contaminant degradation in the presence of sand. Water Res 33:2805–2816

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nieto LM, Hodaifa G, Rodríguez S, Giménez JA, Ochando J (2011) Degradation of organic matter in olive-oil mill wastewater through homogeneous Fenton-like reaction. Chem Eng J 173:503–510

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panizza M, Cerisola G (2009) Electro-Fenton degradation of synthetic dyes. Water Res 43:339–344

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paredes C, Bernal M, Cegarra J, Roig A (2002) Bio-degradation of olive mill wastewater sludge by its co-composting with agricultural wastes. Bioresour Technol 85:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peralta-Hornandez J, Mejia S, Codinez LA, Meas-Vong Y (2005) Fenton and electrochemical approaches for water purification technologies

  • Picard T, Cathalifaud-Feuillade G, Mazet M, Vandensteendam C (2000) Cathodic dissolution in the electrocoagulation process using aluminium electrodes. J Environ Monit 2:77–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Plant L, Jeff M (1994) Hydrogen peroxide: a potent force to destroy organics in wastewater. Chemical Engineering. Environ Eng 101:16–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivas FJ, Beltrán FJ, Gimeno O, Frades J (2001) Treatment of olive oil mill wastewater by Fenton’s reagent. J Agric Food Chem 49:1873–1880

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roa-Morales G, Campos-Medina E, Aguilera-Cotero J, Bilyeu B, Barrera-Díaz C (2007) Aluminum electrocoagulation with peroxide applied to wastewater from pasta and cookie processing. Sep Purif Technol 54:124–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarika R, Kalogerakis N, Mantzavinos D (2005) Treatment of olive mill effluents: part II. Complete removal of solids by direct flocculation with poly-electrolytes. Environ Int 31:297–304

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Serikawa R, Isaka M, Su Q, Usui T, Nishimura T, Sato H, Hamada S (2000) Wet electrolytic oxidation of organic pollutants in wastewater treatment. J Appl Electrochem 30:875–883

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shen F, Chen X, Gao P, Chen G (2003) Electrochemical removal of fluoride ions from industrial wastewater. Chem Eng Sci 58:987–993

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tekin H, Bilkay O, Ataberk SS, Balta TH, Ceribasi IH, Sanin FD, Dilek FB, Yetis U (2006) Use of Fenton oxidation to improve the biodegradability of a pharmaceutical wastewater. J Hazard Mater 136:258–265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turano E, Curcio S, De Paola MG, Calabrò V, Iorio G (2002) An integrated centrifugation–ultrafiltration system in the treatment of olive mill wastewater. J Membr Sci 209:519–531

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C-T, Chou W-L, Kuo Y-M (2009) Removal of COD from laundry wastewater by electrocoagulation/electroflotation. J Hazard Mater 164:81–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Doan H, Upreti S (2008) Decolorization of aqueous textile reactive dye by ozone. Chem Eng J 142:156–160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz AE, Boncukcuoğlu R, Kocakerim MM (2007) A quantitative comparison between electrocoagulation and chemical coagulation for boron removal from boron-containing solution. J Hazard Mater 149:475–481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaroual Z, Azzi M, Saib N, Chaînet E (2006) Contribution to the study of electrocoagulation mechanism in basic textile effluent. J Hazard Mater 131:73–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zazo J, Casas J, Mohedano A, Gilarranz M, Rodriguez J (2005) Chemical pathway and kinetics of phenol oxidation by Fenton’s reagent. Environ Sci Technol 39:9295–9302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

    Yahya Esfandyari & Yousef Mahdavi

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Mahdi Seyedsalehi

  3. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR, Iran

    Mohammad Hoseini

  4. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Gholam Hossein Safari

  5. Environmental Health Department of East Azerbaijan Province Health Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Mohammad Ghanbari Ghozikali

  6. Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

    Hossein Kamani

  7. Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

    Jalil Jaafari

Authors
  1. Yahya Esfandyari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yousef Mahdavi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mahdi Seyedsalehi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mohammad Hoseini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gholam Hossein Safari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mohammad Ghanbari Ghozikali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Hossein Kamani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jalil Jaafari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jalil Jaafari.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Bingcai Pan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Esfandyari, Y., Mahdavi, Y., Seyedsalehi, M. et al. Degradation and biodegradability improvement of the olive mill wastewater by peroxi-electrocoagulation/electrooxidation-electroflotation process with bipolar aluminum electrodes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 6288–6297 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3832-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3832-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation