Fattyacidsmonitoring in the anaerobicdepuration of oliveoilmill wastewater

Anaerobic digestion of olive oil mill wastewater was investigated using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) pilot plant and a laboratory fixed-bed upflow digester. Fattyacids contained in oliveoilmill wastewater undergoing anaerobic treatment were degraded in both plants via hydrogenation of the double bond followed by depolymerisation. A similar behaviour was found to occur in wastewater stored in tanks for several months.