title: Mitigation of olive mill wastewater toxicity.
abstract: The toxicity of olive mill wastewaters (OMW) is commonly attributed to monomeric phenols. OMW were treated in an aerated, stirred reactor containing agricultural soil, where the oxidative polymerization of phenols took place. In 24 h, OMW monomeric phenols decreased by >90%. This resulted in a corresponding reduction in phytotoxicity, as measured by germination tests with tomato and English cress seeds, and in microbial toxicity, as measured by lag phase duration in Bacillus cereus batch growth. Soil germination capability after irrigation with OMW was assessed in long-term pot experiments. The relative germination percentage of tomato was higher when the soil was irrigated with treated OMW rather than with untreated ones, although it was lower than the control (e.g., soil irrigated with distilled water). At longer incubation times, a complete recovery of the soil germination capability was achieved with treated, but not with untreated, OMW.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, Università di Napoli Federico II, piazzale V. Tecchio 80, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: M Letizia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Colarieti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iamarino
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gianfreda
mesh_terms: D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005511:Food Handling; D018525:Germination; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D010938:Plant Oils; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010636:Phenols; D010938:Plant Oils; D011108:Polymers; D012987:Soil