Purification of black olive washed waters by aerobic biological and ozonation processes

Abstract

The purification of black olive washed waters has been studied by an aerobic biological treatment, an ozonation process and by the combination of both sequential processes: ozone-biological and biological-ozone. Biodegradation experiments have been carried out modifying the initial substrate and biomass concentration. In the ozonation experiments, temperature, pH and ozone partial pressure has been varied. A kinetic study applying the Contois’model to the biological experimental data was performed. In the ozonation process, supposing a firsts-order kinetic reaction with respect to COD and ozone, the kinetic constant was determined. In both combined treatments, the previous stage improved the reaction rate of the second stage. For the purification of these wastewaters, an aerobic biological treatment followed by an ozonation process was the most effective sequence.