TREATMENT OF DETOXIFIED OLIVE MILL WASTEWATERS BY ANAEROBIC FILTER AND AEROBIC FLUIDIZED-BED PROCESSES

Anaerobic filter (AF) was compared with aerobic fluidized bed fermentor (AFBF) for treating detoxified Olive Mill Wastewaters by Aspergillus niger. The behaviour of AFBF is more difficult than AF. The AFBF removes 57% of total COD after elimination of TSS which correspond to sludge. The treatment of detoxified OMW by AF reduces the total COD and soluble COD at 67 and 68.1% respectively. As regard to double role of AF, physical retention and anaerobic mineralization, the reduction of TSS was 62.9%. AFBF is less economic than AF because of consumption of aeration energy and of the very high production of secondary sludge. Moreover, AF produces biogas at 80% of methane. The black colour of OMW is weakly reduced only by AF.