Reuse of microbially treated olive mill wastewater as fertiliser for wheat ( Triticum durum Desf.)

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2004, Vol.91 (2), p.135-140
• Main Authors: Fausto Cereti, Carlo, Rossini, Francesco, Federici, Federico, Quaratino, Daniele, Vassilev, Nikolay, Fenice, Massimiliano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air-lift bioreactor; Aspergillus niger; Aspergillus niger - metabolism; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biological reactors (see also Individual systems); biological treatment; Biological treatment of waters; Biotechnology; Durum wheat; Environment and pollution; Fertilizers; food processing wastes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microbial treatment; Olea - chemistry; Olea - metabolism; Olive mill wastewater; olive processing industry; Repeated-batch process; Rock phosphate; Triticum - physiology; Triticum turgidum subsp. durum; Various methods and equipments; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; waste utilization; wastewater
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/S0960-8524(03)00181-0

Free cells of Aspergillus niger were grown on olive mill wastewater (OMW) supplemented with rock phosphate (RP) in an air-lift bioreactor in batch and repeated-batch processes. The fungus grew well and reduced the chemical oxygen demand of the waste by 35% and 64% in the batch and repeated-batch (fourth batch) processes, respectively. Total sugar content was consistently reduced (ca. 60%) in both processes while reduction of total phenols was minimal. RP was solubilised and maximum soluble P was 0.63 and 0.75 g l −1 in the batch and repeated-batch (third batch), respectively. Several types of OMW ± RP, microbially-treated or not, were tested in a greenhouse for their fertilising ability on a soil-wheat ( Triticum durum Desf.) model system. Beneficial effects were highest using OMW treated by the repeated-batch process. The treated plants showed an increase in seed biomass, spike number, and kernel weight. Harvest index was highest (0.49 ± 0.04) after treatment with OMW from the repeated-batch process.