Ozonation and biodegradation processes in batch reactors treating black table olives washing wastewaters

The decomposition of the organic substrate present in wastewaters from the washing stages in the black table olives industry is studied in batch react ors by means of several treatments: by ozonation processes, with ozone alon e, and in combination with hydrogen peroxide and UV radiation; by aerobic b iodegradation; and by the ozonation of the aerobically pretreated wastewate rs. In the ozonation processes, the effect of the inlet ozone partial press ure on the substrate removal, biodegradability, and aromatic compounds cont ent as well as the influence of the presence of H2O2 and UV radiation on th e substrate removal is established. A kinetic study is conducted which lead s to the evaluation of the kinetic constants for the substrate reduction an d ozone disappearance. In the aerobic degradation treatment, the evolutions of the substrate and biomass are followed during the process, and a kineti c study is performed by using the Contois model, which applied to the exper imental data provides the specific biokinetic constant K-C. Finally, in the ozonation process of the biologically pretreated wastewaters, the effect o f the aerobic pretreatment on the substrate removal and the kinetic constan t obtained is also discussed.