New Technology to Recycle Wastewater
An EU-funded project called Algatec II has develÂoped a water recyÂcling sysÂtem for olive oil proÂducÂtion, reducÂing water usage by up to 90 perÂcent. The sysÂtem involves pumpÂing used water into a phoÂtoÂbioreÂacÂtor to remove polÂluÂtants, and the puriÂfied water can be reused in the proÂducÂtion process or as drinkÂing water.
An EU-funded project has develÂoped an innoÂvÂaÂtive sysÂtem of recyÂcling the wasteÂwater from olive oil proÂducÂtion.
Algatec II is a colÂlabÂoÂraÂtive research project addressÂing the ​‘optiÂmizaÂtion of the biotechÂnoÂlogÂiÂcal recyÂcling soluÂtion for olive washÂing water’ funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.
By using the water recyÂcling sysÂtem olive proÂducÂers use up to 90 perÂcent less water, a major benÂeÂfit for the enviÂronÂment.
In order to process 100 kg of olives, about 50 liters of water are used to wash the olives before proÂcessÂing. The leftÂover wasteÂwater is conÂtÂaÂmÂiÂnated and canÂnot be disÂposed of. This is because the polypheÂnols which are found in olives, though good for human health, can be harmÂful to the enviÂronÂment if released in large quanÂtiÂties.
Traditionally, wasteÂwater would be left in large evapÂoÂraÂtion ponds but this method has a few drawÂbacks: capacÂity is limÂited, stagÂnant water causes the develÂopÂment of bad odors and the breedÂing of insects, and the ponds would often have to be empÂtied manÂuÂally.
Using the new techÂnolÂogy develÂoped by ALGATEC II, after the olives are washed, the used water is pumped into a phoÂtoÂbioreÂacÂtor where the polÂluÂtants are absorbed by micro-organÂisms.
Solar panÂels heat the water to increase the growth of micro-organÂisms when sufÂfiÂcient sunÂlight is not availÂable durÂing winÂter months. The water then runs through two memÂbrane filÂters where any residÂual polÂluÂtants are removed.
The puriÂfied water can be used to wash another batch of olives or even as drinkÂing water. A demonÂstraÂtion plant has been set up at the University of Huelva, Spain.
The ALGATEC II project is made up of five partÂners from small and medium-sized enterÂprises (SMEs) in Germany, Italy and Spain. The next step is to develop a busiÂness plan to marÂket the water recyÂcling techÂnolÂogy.
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