Catalytic Oxidation and Dephenolisation of Olive Mill Wastewater with Hypochlorite

Removal of toxicity of organic matter of raw olive mill wastewater (OMW) of the north of Tunisia was carried out by catalytic oxidation process, using a catalytic system the Fe (OH) 2/1, 10-phenanthroline (Fe (OH) 2/phen) and hypochlorite (OCl-). The physicochemical characterization of raw olive mill wastewater (OMW), reveal an acid pH 5.14, a high chemical oxygen demand (COD) (193.45 g O2 L-1) and total phenol content (8.99 g L-1). The efficiency of our catalytic oxidation process has been assessed by reducing the (COD), total phenol content and turbidity. The results showed 98 % removal of COD, 99.8 % elimination of total phenol content and 100 % elimination of turbidity. The effects of different operating conditions reagents concentration and temperature on the OMW oxidation efficiency were studied and evaluated. The treated effluent was subjected to a fast liming to reduce salinity (SALT) under (200 rpm for 5 min) optimal conditions (0.5 g L-1 of CaO), without any blackening of the treated OMW. SALT was decreased half of their initial values (from 49.3 ppt to 23 ppt).