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Microbial population dynamics in indigenous olive wastewater biofilms
Author(s)
Hoekstra, Dirk Tjalling
Date Issued
2007
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
The olive industry in South Africa, although small compared to the rest of the world, is rapidly
expanding and producing increased volumes of wastewater on an annual basis that could in future
develop into a major environmental problem. Olive mill wastewater (OMWW) and table olive
wastewater (TOWW) are characterised by high chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen
demand (BOD) and phenolic content that are toxic to the environment. Due to the nature of olive
wastewater (OWW), its irresponsible and unregulated environmental release will result in oxygen
depletion, nutrient enrichment and accumulation of toxic compounds in receiving water bodies that
ultimately disrupts aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. An estimated 3500 - 4500 tons of olives are
processed on an annual basis by 51 farmers .in the Western Cape. Economic forecasts predict a
steady growth, i.e. increased production and processing of olives in the South African olive
industry, in the future due to consumer demand. These production increases will consequently lead
to increased volumes of wastewater production, which would, in tum, require an expansion of
treatment capacity of the wastewater prior to release. Two South African olive factories were
chosen for this study: Buffet Olives, situated in Dal Josefat (Paarl), that produces table olives and
Vesuvio Estate on Sorento farm (Wellington) that produce extra-virgin olive oil.
Preliminary COD determinations showed that indigenous OWW biofilms within a rotating
biological contactor set-up reduced the COD from TOWW and OMWW by 47% and 32%,
respectively, over a l0-day period. These preliminary results strongly suggested that biofilms
indigenous to OWW have the potential to remediate the pollution problems of OWW. However, the
overall aim of this study was to determine how sustainable the application of indigenous biofilms in
the OWW are over two production seasons and whether it would be feasible to apply and develop
these naturally occurring biofilms as an effective bioremediation tool to reduce the COD and
polyphenol content of OWW.
expanding and producing increased volumes of wastewater on an annual basis that could in future
develop into a major environmental problem. Olive mill wastewater (OMWW) and table olive
wastewater (TOWW) are characterised by high chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen
demand (BOD) and phenolic content that are toxic to the environment. Due to the nature of olive
wastewater (OWW), its irresponsible and unregulated environmental release will result in oxygen
depletion, nutrient enrichment and accumulation of toxic compounds in receiving water bodies that
ultimately disrupts aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. An estimated 3500 - 4500 tons of olives are
processed on an annual basis by 51 farmers .in the Western Cape. Economic forecasts predict a
steady growth, i.e. increased production and processing of olives in the South African olive
industry, in the future due to consumer demand. These production increases will consequently lead
to increased volumes of wastewater production, which would, in tum, require an expansion of
treatment capacity of the wastewater prior to release. Two South African olive factories were
chosen for this study: Buffet Olives, situated in Dal Josefat (Paarl), that produces table olives and
Vesuvio Estate on Sorento farm (Wellington) that produce extra-virgin olive oil.
Preliminary COD determinations showed that indigenous OWW biofilms within a rotating
biological contactor set-up reduced the COD from TOWW and OMWW by 47% and 32%,
respectively, over a l0-day period. These preliminary results strongly suggested that biofilms
indigenous to OWW have the potential to remediate the pollution problems of OWW. However, the
overall aim of this study was to determine how sustainable the application of indigenous biofilms in
the OWW are over two production seasons and whether it would be feasible to apply and develop
these naturally occurring biofilms as an effective bioremediation tool to reduce the COD and
polyphenol content of OWW.
Additional information
Thesis (MTech (Food Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2007
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