CHARACTERIZATION OF OLIVE MILL WASTE-WATER (ALPECHIN) AND ITS SLUDGE FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES

Ten samples of olive mill wastewater (OMW) taken from different mills In southern Spain and other ten of OMW sludges from evaporation ponds were analysed. The aim was to study the composition of these wastes an d to find relationships which would make it possible to use easily det erminable parameters to ascertain their composition. Compared with oth er organic wastes, these materials had a high potassium concentration, a similar organic matter content and notable levels of nitrogen; phos phorus, calcium, magnesium and iron. The highest potassium concentrati ons were observed in the OMWs, while the sludges showed higher levels of the other nutrients, especially iron. The dry matter of the OMWs wa s significantly correlated with most of:the parameters studied but, in the sludges, the only correlation was between the ash content and the total organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations. The regressio n equations obtained permitted a rapid. characterization of the OMWs f rom their dry matter content. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.