title: Bioremediation of olive oil mill wastewater and production of microbial biomass.
abstract: Olive oil mill wastewater (OMWW) was used as a substrate for the culture of a mixture of edible fungi in order to obtain a potentially useful microbial biomass and to induce a partial bioremediation of this fastidious waste. Before fermentation, the OMWW underwent an alkaline-oxidative treatment with the aim of decreasing the polyphenolic content which is the main cause of its toxicity. The fungal mixture grew fairly well in the treated OMWW and reached a maximum of biomass production within about 14 days of fermentation at room temperature. Up to 150-160 g of wet biomass was obtained per liter of OMWW. Analysis of the partially dehydrated biomass revealed a protein content of about 13 g% and 6 g% of row fiber. A relevant presence of unsaturated fatty acids was found, as well as the presence of significant amounts of vitamins A and E, nicotinic acid, calcium, potassium and iron. The possibility of using the microbial biomass produced from OMWW as an additive to animal feed is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Microbiologia Applicata, Università di Cagliari, via Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Samuela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laconi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molle
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabiddu
authors.forename: Raffaello
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pompei
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000379:methods; D005285:Fermentation; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry; D009525:Niacin / Q000737:chemistry; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000378:metabolism*; D059808:Polyphenols; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry; D011312:Pressure; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010636:Phenols; D010938:Plant Oils; D059808:Polyphenols; D009525:Niacin; D007501:Iron; D011188:Potassium; D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium