COMPARISON OF AN INTEGRATED FLOCCULATION/ULTRAFILTRATION/NANOFILTRATION

TREATMENT PROCESS FOR TWO-PHASE AND THREE-PHASE OLIVE MILL WASTEWATER

RECLAMATION
J.M. Ochando-Pulido1
M.D. Vctor-Ortega 2
A. Martinez-Frez 3

ABSTRACT
An average-sized modern olive oil factory leads to a daily amount of up to 10 - 15 m3. This
raises various millions m3 of these effluents each campaign. In this work, an integrated
treatment process comprising flocculation (F) followed by ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration
(NF) was examined for the reclamation of the effluents exiting both the two-phase and treephase extraction. However, one main problem in applying this technology to wastewater
management issues is given by membrane fouling. In the last years, the threshold flux theory
was introduced as a key tool to understand fouling problems, for optimal membrane process
design and operation. In the present manuscript, mathematical approach of threshold flux
conditions for membranes operation is addressed, also implementing proper pretreatment
processes such as pH-T flocculation in order to reduce membranes fouling. The adequate
pretreatment influences the organic matter content as well as the particle size distribution of
the solutes surviving in the wastewater stream, leading, when properly applied, to reduced
fouling, higher rejection and recovery values. This pretreatment procedure ensured higher and
steady threshold permeate flux values in all membrane separation stages, major COD rejection
values and increased recovery rates, enhancing the cost-effectiveness of the management
process of both OMW-2 and OMW-3 by the proposed batch membranes sequence. Moreover,
the purified wastewater stream can be discharged in Italian and Spanish sewers. The concept
of the threshold flux appeared to be a key tool for controlling fouling problems common to all
large-scale membranes applications, giving valuable information regarding optimal
hydrodynamics to ensure safe design and steady operation of the plant. The productivity of
the plant is increased of 22.3% and 17.6% for UF and NF in case of OMW2 and of 59.2% and
18.1% for UF and NF in case of OMW3, respectively. These facts are critical to ensure the
economic feasibility of the process. Finally, COD values compatible with the pursued quality
standards were accomplished.
Keywords: Nanofiltration; Ultrafiltration; Flocculation; Olive mill wastewater; Wastewater
reclamation.

J.M. Ochando-Pulido, Chemical Engineering Department, University of Granada, Spain, jmochandop@ugr.es

M.D. Vctor-Ortega, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, Spain
3
A. Martnez-Frez, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, Spain
2

Sustainable Development Symposium | 6th annual European postgraduate symposium | 1