Review of Technologies for Recovery and Removal of Phenolic Compounds from Olive Mill Wastewater

Phenolic compounds are known to be environmentally dangerous pollutants. It is demonstrated that discharging them into environment causes an inhibitory effect on plant seed germination, plant growth, and microbial division. However, antioxidant properties of phenols, has persuaded researchers to recover these compounds from industrial wastes in the recent years. Olive mill wastewater is a rich source of phenolic compounds and its treatment for recovering these compounds is inevitable. It has been investigated that coupling these treatments with recovery of valuable reagents can compensate a large amount of costs. Nowadays, recovery of phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater has attracted much attention due to its high added-value. Degradation of phenolic compounds can also produce high addedvalue materials. Biogas and compost are products from biological degradation processes. In this study physicochemical, biological, and combined processes for recovery and removal of phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater are reviewed.