Student Research

Separation of soluble phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater (OMW) using modified surfactant

Authors: Al-Bawab, A., Alshawawreh, F., Abu-Dalo, M. A., Al-Rawashdeh, N. A., & Bozeya, A.

ABSTRACT

Olive mill wastewater (OMW), a by-product of olive oil production, poses significant environmental risks due to its acidity and high polyphenol content, particularly in water-scarce regions like Jordan. This study developed a cost-effective approach to reduce the phenolic content in OMW using modified granular-activated carbon (GAC). Commercial GAC, chosen for its high surface area and adsorption capacity, was modified via oxidative treatment with concentrated nitric acid and reductive treatment using 10 wt.% ammonia solution. The modified GAC samples were tested for phenolic compound (PC) adsorption from OMW under varying surfactant types, concentrations, and pH levels using a batch method. The optimized conditions revealed that reduced GAC at pH 9 achieved the highest removal efficiency, reducing the phenolic content by 88% after 48 h. Surfactants had no significant effect on the performance of reduced GAC. Desorption tests after 7 and 32 days indicated a minimal release of PCs, confirming strong binding to the GAC surface. These findings demonstrate the potential of reduced GAC as a sustainable and cost-efficient solution for treating OMW, addressing the critical challenges in water resource management and environmental pollution in regions like Jordan.

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Olive mill wastewater treatment in Jordan: A Review

Authors: Al Bawab, A., Ghannam, N., Abu-Mallouh, S., Bozeya, A., Abu-Zurayk, R. A., Al-Ajlouni, Y. A., Odeh, F., & Abu-Dalo, M. A.

The environmental impact of olive mill wastewater (OMW) pollution is a public concern. OMW contains high levels of phenols, organic compounds, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), microorganisms, nutrients, and toxic compounds. The treatment of OMW has been investigated by many researchers in the Mediterranean region, using several treatment techniques to remove contaminants from OMW. These techniques include chemical, biological, physiochemical, and biophysical techniques. Surfactants and some adsorbents were used in chemical techniques, anaerobic and aerobic in biological techniques, while the combined treatment methods used Electroosmosis, ozonation and electrocoagulation processes as physiochemical methods, and ultrasonic irradiation combined with aerobic biodegradation as biophysical method. The effects of OMW, whether treated or untreated, have been evaluated on both plants' growth and soil properties. The treatment methods as well as the environmental impact of OMW in Jordan were summarized in this review.

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Preparation of activated carbon derived from Jordanian olive cake and functionalized

Authors: Abu-Dalo, M., Abdelnabi, J., & Bawab, A. A.

Abstract

Olive oil production generates solid and liquid wastes that cause various environmental problems due to their high phenols and polyphenols load. Although many treatment methods were investigated to manage these wastes, more research is still needed to identify simple and cost-effective approaches. In this study, activated carbon (AC) was prepared from olive cake waste and functionalized with Cu/Cu2O/CuO for efficient and selective removal of phenolic content from olive mill wastewater (OMW). AC media were characterized by scanning electron/dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The optimum adsorption parameters were investigated, and the adsorption isotherms, thermodynamics, and kinetics were determined. The adsorption of phenols onto copper oxide AC was best described by the Langmuir adsorption with maximum adsorption capacity of 13.9, 12.7, and 9.9 mg/g at 311, 302, and 293 K, respectively. The adsorption reaction was found to be spontaneous and endothermic where ∆H° and ∆G° were found to be 30.104 kJ/mol and −1.765, −2.839, and −3.723 (kJ/mol) at 311, 302, and 293 K, respectively. In addition, the kinetics data were perfectly fit by the pseudo-second-order model. The activated product derived from recyclable olive cake and enriched with inorganic functionality can offer a cost-effective treatment solution for OMW; thus, reducing both the liquid and solid waste generated from the olive mill industry.

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Olive mill wastewater (OMW) treatment using photocatalyst media

Authors: Al Bawab, A., Abu-Dalo, M., Khalaf, A., & Abu-Dalo, D.

Abstract

A new nanophotocatalysts series of M2Zr2O7 (M = Mn, Cu, and Fe) and doped Fe2Zr2O7 systems were prepared via sol-gel using the pechini method, characterized, and tested in photocatalytic degradation of olive mill wastewater (OMW). The photocatalytic degradation of the prepared materials was evaluated by measuring total phenolic compounds (TPCs) using the Folin-Ciocalteu method for variable pH under a commercial LED lamp (45 W). The removal of TPCs was measured at different contact times ranging from 2 h to 6 days. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis approved the nano size of (5–17 nm) and quasi-spherical morphology of the prepared materials. ICP-OES analysis confirmed the XRD analysis and approved the structure of the prepared materials. Aggregation of the nanomaterials was observed using TEM imaging. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis measured a 67 m2/g surface area for Fe2Zr2O7. Doping Fe with Mn increased the surface area to 173 m2/g and increased to 187 m2/g with a further increase of the Mn dopant. Increasing the Mn dopant concentration increased both surface area and photocatalytic degradation. The highest degradation of TPCs was observed for Mn2Zr2O7 around 70% at pH 10 and exposure time up to one day.

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Olive mill wastewater treatment using vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs)

Authors: Abu-Dalo, M., Abu-Dalo, D., Halalsheh, M., & Al Bawab, A.

Abstract

The study explores a synergistic two-phase system to treat olive mill wastewater (OMW), comprising a multilayer adsorbent filter (pretreatment) and a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW). The pretreatment phase includes layers of commercial granular activated carbon (CGAC) and volcanic tuff (VT), while the VFCW phase consists of planted tank with Phragmites australis reeds and unplanted tanks. Initially, municipal wastewater is introduced into the VFCW to establish the required microbial community. Then, pre-treated OMW is passed through the VFCW. The removal rates of various pollutants were assessed. The planted VFCW showed superior removal efficiencies, averaging 97.82% for total chemical oxygen demand (CODT), 92.78% for dissolved oxygen demand (CODd), 99.61% for total phenolic compounds (TPC), 98.94% for total nitrogen (TN), 96.96% for ammonium, and 95.83% for nitrate. In contrast, the unplanted VFCW displayed lower removal efficiencies, averaging 91.47% for CODT, 77.82% for CODd, 98.53% for TPC, 97.51% for TN, 92.04% for ammonium, and 90.82% for nitrate. These findings highlight the significant potential of VFCWs, which offer an integrated approach to OMW treatment by incorporating physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms within a single treatment system.
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