Evaluation of olive oil mill wastewater toxicity on spinach

Background, aim, and scope

Olive oil mill wastewater (OMW), a by-product of the olive oil extraction process, is annually produced in huge amounts in olive-growing areas and represents a significant environmental problem in Mediterranean areas. We studied the impact of OMW dilutions (1:20 and 1:10) on spinach plants in order to evaluate OMW dilutions as a low-cost alternative method for the disposal of this waste.

Materials and methods

The effects of OMW dilutions were evaluated on seed germination, shoot and root elongation, biomass production, nutrient uptake and translocation, ascorbic acid content, polyphenols, photosynthetic pigments, and photosynthetic performance of spinach.

Results

Plant biomass was more affected than plant height and total chlorophyll; carotenoid and ascorbic acid content progressively decreased with decreasing OMW dilution. Exposure to both OMW dilutions resulted in overaccumulation of total polyphenols, which were negatively correlated to plant biomass and nutrients. Nutrient (Fe, Ca, and Mg) content was insufficient leading to reduced growth. Water use efficiency decreased mainly due to decreased CO₂ assimilation rate rather than to a decline of transpiration rate. Disturbances in photosystem II (PSII) photochemical efficiency could be better envisaged by the ratio between variable fluorescence and initial fluorescence (Fv/Fo), which showed much greater amplitude than the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm).

Conclusions

From the data obtained, it is suggested that 1:20 OMW dilutions are still phytotoxic and that higher OMW dilutions should be used in order to use this waste for the irrigation of spinach plants.     

强化活性炭吸附技术深度处理焦化废水的可行性研究

采用混凝沉淀、活性炭吸附以及混凝沉淀 活性炭吸附工艺对焦化厂生化出水进行深度处理.单独混凝沉淀或活性炭吸附均可以将水样中COD降到100 mg/L以下,达到国家污水一级排放标准和冷却用水建议标准.活性炭根据不同的材质和进水而表现出不同的吸附性能,对于焦化厂生化出水,煤质炭Ⅰ和果壳炭均表现出良好的吸附效果,并使出水COD＜100 mg/L,但处理成本较高.混凝沉淀 活性炭吸附工艺充分发挥适合去除大分子污染物的混凝沉淀与适宜去除小分子污染物的活性炭吸附技术两者的协同增效作用,吸附单元采用廉价的煤质炭,使出水水质达到个别生产或生活用水回用标准,并且降低深度处理成本.研究结果表明,混凝沉淀 活性炭吸附作为焦化厂生化出水回用工艺是经济可行的.     

Reduction of the phenolic components in olive-mill wastewater by an enzymatic treatment and its impact on durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) germinability

Olive-mill wastewater (OMW), an effluent of olive oil extraction process, is annually produced in huge amounts in olive growing areas. An interesting option for its disposal is the spreading on agricultural land, provided that phytotoxic effects are neutralized. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the potential of an enzyme-based treatment in removing OMW phytotoxicity. To this aim, germinability experiments on durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf. cv. Duilio) were conducted in the presence of different dilutions of raw or enzyme-treated OMW. OMW treatment with laccase resulted in a 65% and 86% reduction in total phenols and ortho-diphenols respectively, due their polymerization as revealed by size-exclusion chromatography. Raw OMW exerted a significant concentration-dependent inhibition on the germinability of durum wheat seeds which was evident up to a dilution rate of 1:8. When the effluent was treated with a fungal laccase, germinability was increased by 57% at a 1:8 dilution and by 94% at a 1:2 dilution, as compared to the same dilutions using untreated OMW. The treatment with laccase also decreased the mean germination time by about 1 day as compared to untreated controls. These results show that germinability inhibition due to OMW can be reduced effectively using fungal laccase, suggesting that phenols are the main determinants of its phytotoxicity.     

强化活性炭处理工艺去除焦化厂生化出水中的氰化物

以某焦化厂生化出水为研究对象,考寨了金属负载活性炭(简称负载炭)和Fenton氧化预处理等强化活性炭工艺对总氰化物(TCN)的去除效果.在TCN批式实验中,对负载炭的金属离子种类和固定方式进行了考察,同时研究了接触时间、DO对游离氰(KCN配水)、络合氰(K3Fe(CN)6配水)及焦化厂生化出水中TCN的去除效果.结果表明,负载金属离子可以有效提高活性炭对TCN的去除量,KI固定后的载铜活性炭对TCN的去除更有效.吸附作用在活性炭去除TCN过程中起着主要作用,同时TCN在活性炭表面也发生缓慢的催化氧化反应.在穿透实验中,采用了小型炭柱穿透和微型快速穿透实验方法,得到的TCN穿透曲线基本相同.含不同比例原煤炭和负载炭的小型炭柱处理经Fenton氧化预处理的焦化厂生化出水时,在18 d的启动阶段后形成生物活性炭柱,其出水能长期达到<城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准>(GB 18918-2002)规定的要求.载铜话性炭可以提高活性炭工艺对TCN的去除能力,确保处理全程(57 d)出水的TCN达标.     

ClO2三相催化氧化处理硝基苯生产废水的试验

硝基苯(NB)生产废水中含有大量NB及其衍生物,对生物具有毒性,属难生物降解物质.采用ClO2三相催化氧化工艺对NB废水进行处理.结果表明,每升废水投加280、350 mg ClO2,废水在活性炭加载含铜复合金属氧化物的催化剂床层停留56min,NB和色度的去除率均达到95%以上,COD去除率达到90%以上.吨废水处理成本约为10.5元.     

Effect of chromium species on phytochemical and physiological parameters in Datura innoxia

In soil, chromium can be found in two main valence states: hexavalent Cr(VI) and trivalent Cr(III). In this study, we investigated the impact of Cr on photosynthetic gas exchange, photosystem II (PSII) activity, Cr translocation and accumulation, proline content and alkaloids production, i.e. scopolamine and hyoscyamine, in Datura innoxia. Cr uptake was influenced by its oxidation state and its concentration in growth medium. The plant roots were determined as being the main organ of Cr accumulation. Cr(VI) was more toxic than Cr(III) as indicated by reduction in plant biomass and net photosynthesis. The stomatal conductance showed a similar trend to that of photosynthetic capacity. Cr(III) and Cr(VI) had a different impact on substomatal CO(2) concentration then Cr toxicity was related to its oxidation states. In plants stressed with a Cr(VI) excess, a down regulation of PSII activity was observed with an impairment of photochemical activity. Indeed, the maximum quantum yield of PSII (F(v)/F(m)), the quantum yield of PSII (PhiPSII) and the efficiency of excitation capture by open centers (F'(v)/F'(m)) decreased. Cr(III) had little effects on PSII primary photochemistry, whatever its form induces an increase of scopolamine content without changes in hyoscyamine content in leaves of D. innoxia. These results provide that chromium contamination can change the secondary metabolites composition of leaves, thereby, impacting the quality, safety and efficacy of natural plant products synthesized by D. innoxia plants.     

Lysimeter Test of Coke Plant Effluent Disposal to Land in India

ABSTRACT

From the Indian national point of view, the importance of coal carbonizing industries is great and growing. These industries produce huge quantities of highly polluted effluents and discharge them into rivers without proper treatment. A large coke plant of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd. has been surveyed, and the impact of its effluent on surface water quality is discussed. Approximately 175-200 m³ of effluents are discharged from the plant every day. Land application has been considered as a low-cost means of disposal of coke oven effluents. Column lysimeters were prepared by collecting soil from a nearby agricultural field, putting it layerwise into a column, and compacting it carefully to simulate the original in situ conditions. Raw effluents, diluted effluent, and water (as a blank) were applied to the three lysimeters twice a week with a 5 cm flooding. Upon application of diluted effluent (1:1) into lysimeter No. 2, the leachate collected at 190 cm depth was within the tolerance limit of drinking water standard (IS 10,500). The impact of raw and diluted effluent on groundwater quality and soil are discussed. The renovation efficiency of living filter (lysimeter No. 2) was 99.37% for oil and grease, 86.92% for COD, and 53.22% for TDS, and it is estimated that 2.73 hectares of land can be irrigated with the effluents of the coke plant without deteriorating groundwater and soil quality.     

Ecotoxicological and chemical evaluation of phenolic compounds in industrial effluents

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the ecotoxicological response of industrial effluents containing phenolic compounds. All complex effluents collected from a chemical plant and then after both a chemical–physical and biological treatment were characterised with chemical analysis, biodegradability tests and four ecotoxicological tests (Daphnia magna, Artemia salina, Brachionus plicatilis and Vibrio fisheri with Microtox^®). The evaluation of the chemical and ecotoxicological data was useful for predicting the effect of the raw effluent on the treatment plant and the impact of the final treated effluent on the receiving water. Besides the toxicity of the effluent from the chemical plants, the acute toxicity of its main components was also determined. The results of the tests and toxicity data from literature were transformed in Toxic Units (TUs). Effluent toxicity was under- or over-estimated by calculating the sum of the TUs of the individual components, depending on which toxicity data and test organisms were used.     

Fenton组合工艺处理焦化厂生化出水的应用研究

比较了Fenton氧化、Fenton氧化+活性炭及Fenton氧化+生物活性炭工艺对焦化厂生化出水的处理效果.结果表明,Fe2+、H2O2的投加量分别为56、27.2 mg/L时,Fenton氧化工艺对水样的UV254、颜色度(VIS380)、COD和总氰均有较好的去除效果;Fenton氧化+活性炭工艺在有效去除UV254、VIS380、COD和总氰的同时,能强化活性炭的吸附效果,并能显著提高水样的生化性能;Fenton氧化+生物活性炭工艺能有效去除UVM254,VIS380、COD与总氰,使出水达到<污水综合排放标准>(GB 8978-1996)一级标准.     

Valorization of treated olive mill wastewater in fertigation practice

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) brings about a major environmental problem in Tunisia as well as in the other Mediterranean countries. Its strong organic load and its toxicity due to the presence of complex phenolic compounds have dire effects when applied to soil. To overcome this difficulty, the OMW pretreatment was investigated in the present work using the Fenton oxidation reaction with zero-valent iron. Then, this pretreated wastewater was valorized in fertigation practice. The effects of the addition of different concentrations of both treated and raw OMW on soil and cropping system were investigated. The treatment by Fenton oxidation with zero-valent iron could reduce 50 % of COD and decrease 53 % of phenolic compounds. OMW application had a temporary effect on the soil pH and EC. The results showed that the evolution of soil pH and EC was related to the organic matter of the soil which depends on the spread concentrations of raw or treated OMW. After 15-day incubation period, the soil pH and EC tended to stabilize and return to the control level. Moreover, this stabilization is faster in treated OMW than that in raw OMW especially for concentrations as high as 3 and 4 %. Plants cultivated with treated OMW showed an increase in their germination. The results pointed an improvement in the stem length of plants which is almost similar to that of the control for both pea and tomato, especially for high concentrations of 3 and 4 %.     

Dephenolization and detoxification of olive-mill wastewater (OMW) by purified biotic and abiotic oxidative catalysts

The capability of two oxidative catalysts, a laccase from Rhus vernicifera and birnessite, a manganese oxide, in the dephenolization and detoxification of two olive-mill wastewater (OMW) samples, C1 and C2, differing for complexity and composition, was evaluated. OMW phenolic extracts (EC1 and EC2) and mono-substrate solutions of phenols mostly present in OMW samples were also tested. Birnessite was more effective than laccase in removing the phenolic content from mono-substrate solutions (more than 70% of each initial phenolic concentration) and of either OMW samples or EC1 and EC2 extracts. For instance, 60% of the total phenolic content of EC1 was removed after 48-h treatment with 5 mg mL(-1) birnessite and the efficiency was lower as greater was the complexity of the OMW sample (only 17% removal from EC2 over the same time span). Phytotoxicity tests with Lepidium sativum and Lycopersicon esculentum seeds and antibacterial toxicity tests with Bacillus megaterium were performed on crude OMW samples and their extract and exhausted fractions before and after the catalytic treatment. Results demonstrated that (a) monomeric phenols were certainly but not exclusively responsible of OMW phytotoxicity, whereas their removal led to a quite complete elimination of the toxicity toward bacterial growth; (b) other components not removable by the oxidative catalysts very likely contribute to OMW phytotoxicity; and (c) the choice of the vegetal species to use in toxicity tests might be crucial for correct and easily interpretable results. Overall the results provided useful information on the possible use of oxidative catalysts for the efficient treatment of complex aqueous wastes such as those deriving from olive industry.     

Toxicity of leather tanning wastewater effluents in sea urchin early development and in marine microalgae

This study was designed to investigate the composition and the toxicity of leather tanning wastewater and conditioned sludge collected at the leather tanning wastewater treatment plant (CODISO) located in Solofra, Avellino (Southern Italy). Samples were analyzed for their conventional parameters (COD, TSS, chromium and ammonia) and for metal content. Effluent samples included raw wastewater, and samples collected following coagulation/flocculation process and biological treatment. A set of toxicity endpoints were tested using sea urchin and marine microalgal bioassays by evaluating acute embryotoxicity, developmental defects, changes in sperm fertilization success and transmissible damage from sperm to the offspring, and changes in algal growth rate. Dose-related toxicity to sea urchin embryogenesis and sperm fertilization success was exerted by effluent or sludge samples according to the following rank: conditioned sludge > coagulated effluent > or = raw influent > effluent from biological treatment. Offspring quality was not affected by sperm exposure to any wastewater or to sludge samples. Algal growth was inhibited by raw or coagulated effluent to a similar extent and, again, the effluent from the biological treatment resulted in a decreased toxicity. The results suggest that coagulated effluent and conditioned sludge result in higher toxicity than raw influent in sea urchin embryos and sperm, whereas the biological wastewater treatment of coagulated effluent, in both sea urchins and algae, cause a substantial improvement of wastewater quality. Hence a final biological wastewater treatment should be operated to minimize any environmental damage from tannery wastewater.     

Effects of wastewater from olive processing on seed germination and early plant growth of different vegetable species

Abstract

The effects of wastewater from olive processing on seed germination and early plant growth of different vegetable species were examined. Three types of wastewater at different concentrations were tested: raw wastewater, wastewater with organic matter removed and deionized wastewater.

Results generally indicate an inhibitory effect on seed germination and early plant growth by all treatments containing any kind of wastewater. Of the three types of effluent, raw wastewater had the greatest depressive effect, followed by deionized wastewater and finally effluent with organic matter removed. Barley showed the least sensitivity to phytotoxic effects while tomato was the plant most affected. The remaining vegetable species showed an intermediate sensitivity.     

Long-Term Effects on Soil of the Disposal of Olive Mill Waste Waters (OMW)

Disposal of untreated olive mill waste waters (OMW) is a serious environmental problem in many Mediterranean countries. The aim of this work was to assess whether changes in soil properties have occurred due to direct disposal of raw OMW on soil and in evaporation ponds, and to investigate the potential fate and transport of pollutants after olive oil production had ceased. The results clearly showed that uncontrolled OMW disposal is a significant source of pollution to surface soil and waters. Disposal of OMW on soil greatly increased electrical conductivity (EC), available phosphorous (P), exchangeable potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg), organic matter, polyphenols, total and inorganic nitrogen (N), and available micronutrients mainly in surface soil layers. The presence of a high content of clay and carbonates in soil act as barriers and prevent downward transport of pollutants. Residual levels of total carbon (C), polyphenols, total and inorganic N, exchangeable K⁺, available P, iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) were also elevated even 8 years after mill closure. The long term disposal of OMW highlights the need to establish soil quality standards for soil parameters in order to identify soils affected by the disposal of OMW.     

The individual and combined effects of ozone and simulated acid rain on growth, gas exchange rate and water-use efficiency of Pinus armandi Franch

The seedlings of Pinus armandi Franch. were exposed to ozone (O(3)) at 300 ppb for 8 h a day, 6 days a week, and simulated acid rain of pH 3.0 or 2.3, 6 times a week, alone or in combination, for 14 weeks from 15 June to 20 September 1993. The control seedlings were exposed to charcoal-filtered air and simulated rain of pH 6.8 during the same period. Significant interactive effects of O(3) and simulated acid rain on whole plant net photosynthetic rate were observed, but not on other determined parameters. The exposure of the seedlings to O(3) caused the reductions in the dry weight growth, root dry weight relative to the whole plant dry weight, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate in light, water-use efficiency and root respiration activity, and increases in shoot/root ratio, and leaf dry weight relative to the whole plant dry weight without an appearance of acute visible foliar injury, but did not affect the dark respiration rate and transpiration rate in the darkness. The decreased net photosynthetic rate was considered to be the major cause for the growth reduction of the seedlings exposed to O(3). On the other hand, the exposure of the seedlings to simulated acid rain reduced the net photosynthetic rate per unit chlorophyll a + b content, but did not induce the significant change in other determined parameters.     

Dose and frequency dependent effects of olive mill wastewater treatment on the chemical and microbial properties of soil

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is a problematic by-product of olive oil production. While its high organic load and polyphenol concentrations are associated with troublesome environmental effects, its rich mineral and organic matter contents represent valuable nutrients. This study aimed to investigate the valorization of this waste biomass as a potential soil conditioner and fertilizer in agriculture. OMW was assayed at three doses 50, 100, and 200 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) over three successive years in olive fields. The effects of the effluent on the physico-chemical and microbial properties of soil-layers were assessed. The findings revealed that the pH of the soil decreased but electrical conductivity and organic matter, total nitrogen, sodium, and potassium soil contents increased in proportion with OMW concentration and frequency of application. While no variations were observed in phosphorus content, slow increases were recorded in calcium and magnesium soil contents. Compared to their control soil counterparts, aerobic bacteria and fungi increased in proportion with OMW spreading rates. The models expressing the correlation between progress parameters and OMW doses were fitted into a second degree polynomial model. Principal component analysis showed a strong correlation between soil mineral elements and microorganisms. These parameters were not related to phosphorus and pH.     

Genotypic variation of nitrogen use efficiency in Indian mustard

This experiment was conducted to investigate the variation of nitrogen efficiency (NE), nitrogen uptake efficiency (UE), physiological nitrogen use efficiency (PUE) among Indian mustard genotypes, grown under N-insufficient and N-sufficient conditions. Nitrogen efficiency varied from 52.7 to 92.8. Seed yield varied from 1.14 t ha(-1) to 3.21 t ha(-1) under N-insufficient condition, while 2.14 t ha(-1)-3.33 t ha(-1) under N-sufficient condition. Physiological basis of this difference was explained in terms of nitrogen uptake efficiency and physiological nitrogen use efficiency, and their relationship with the growth and yield characteristics. While nitrogen uptake efficiency was positively correlated with plant biomass (0.793**), leaf area index (0.664*), and leaf nitrogen content (0.783**), physiological nitrogen use efficiency is positively correlated with photosynthetic rate (0.689**) and yield (0.814**). This study suggests that genotype having high nitrogen uptake efficiency and high physiological nitrogen use efficiency might help in reducing the nitrogen load on soil without any penalty on the yield.     

Effects of cadmium on the performance and microbiology of laboratory-scale lagoons treating domestic sewage

Two experiments were performed to assess the impact of cadmium on the sewage lagoon wastewater treatment process. For each one, three laboratory-scale pilot plants with one tank receiving the same raw effluent were used; one plant served as control and the other two were contaminated once only with cadmium. In the first study, the effects of a shock load of two concentrations of cadmium chloride (60 and 300 micrograms/l) on the plant performance, microbial populations (protists and bacteria) and enzyme activities were determined. Initially, most of the performance parameters were affected concentration-dependently. A reduction in the protist population density and some influence on the total bacterial population were observed, and the potential enzymatic activities were also modified. A second experiment with a lower cadmium concentration (30 micrograms/l), supplied as chloride or sulphate, still perturbed most of the parameters studied, and the effects of the two cadmium salts were identical.     

Toxicological characterization of the landfill leachate prior/after chemical and electrochemical treatment: A study on human and plant cells

In this research, toxicological safety of two newly developed methods for the treatment of landfill leachate from the Piškornica (Croatia) sanitary landfill was investigated. Chemical treatment procedure combined chemical precipitation with CaO followed by coagulation with ferric chloride and final adsorption by clinoptilolite. Electrochemical treatment approach included pretreatment with ozone followed by electrooxidation/electrocoagulation and final polishing by microwave irradiation. Cell viability of untreated/treated landfill leachate was examined using fluorescence microscopy. Cytotoxic effect of the original leachate was obtained for both exposure periods (4 and 24 h) while treated samples showed no cytotoxic effect even after prolonged exposure time. The potential DNA damage of the untreated/treated landfill leachate was evaluated by the comet assay and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay using either human or plant cells. The original leachate exhibited significantly higher comet assay parameters compared to negative control after 24 h exposure. On the contrary, there was no significant difference between negative control and chemically/electrochemically treated leachate for any of the parameters tested. There was also no significant increase in either CBMN assay parameter compared to the negative control following the exposure of the lymphocytes to the chemically or electrochemically treated landfill leachate for both exposure periods while the original sample showed significantly higher number of micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds for both exposure times. Results suggest that both methods are suitable for the treatment of such complex waste effluent due to high removal efficiency of all measured parameters and toxicological safety of the treated effluent.     

Reuse of washing effluent containing oxalic acid by a combined precipitation–acidification process

This study aims at evaluating the reuse feasibility of effluent produced by the soil washing of mine tailings with oxalic acid. Alkaline chemicals such as NaOH, Ca(OH)₂, and Na₂CO₃ are used for the precipitation of arsenic and heavy metals in the effluent containing oxalic acid. All of the target contaminants are removed with very high efficiency (up to 100%) at high pH. The precipitation using NaOH at pH 9 is determined to be the most cost-effective method for the removal of arsenic as well as heavy metals in the effluent. The effluent decontaminated by NaOH is consecutively reused for the soil washing of raw mine tailings, resulting in considerable efficiency. Furthermore, even more arsenic and heavy metals are extracted from raw mine tailings by acidifying the decontaminated effluent under the alkaline condition, compared with direct reuse of the decontaminated effluent. Here, the oxalic acid, which is a weak complex-forming ligand as well as a weak acid, has noticeable effects on both soil washing and effluent treatment by precipitation. It extracts efficiently the contaminants from the mine tailings without adverse change of soil and also makes possible the precipitation of the contaminants in the effluent unlike strong chelating reagent. Reuse of the washing effluent containing oxalic acid would make the existing soil washing process more environment-friendly and cost-effective.