The use of two-phase olive oil bagasses as organic amendment -an environmental prevention strategy

摘要

The chemical composition of olive oil mill industry wastewater is variable with the oil extraction process and the quality of olives, but their main characteristics are the high content in phenolic compounds with low molecular weight. The discharge of vegetation water into open lagoons appears to be the most common procedure nowadays. However the environmental authorities are now requiring better treatment alternatives for these wastewater, due to the danger of ground water pollution. To overcome this problem and to fulfil the legal requirements, a new technology based in a two phase extraction system appears as a cleaner process of olive oil production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the application of the bagasse resulting from this process, the two phase bagasse (2P-B), on plant growth and in physical and chemical characteristics of soil. Considering the results of this study, the utilization of 2P-B as organic amendment appears possible. This practice would provide an interesting solution for this by-product leading to a sustainable development of olive oil mill industry.