Adsorption

Adsorption is one of the most advanced treatment methods used by industries to

reduce hazardous organic and inorganic wastes. It is also used to remove toxic
compounds from contaminated ground water. As mentioned before, phenolic
compounds are hazardous wastes that are released into the aquatic environment
as a result of some agro-industrial processes like olive oil mills. By applying
adsorption method 

Adsorption is the attachment of dissolved compounds (adsorbate) from polluted

waters to a solid substance(adsorbent). In this case of OMW, adsorbates are
polyphenols and tannins. 

A variety of low-cost adsorbents, including natural materials, biosorbents, and

waste materials from industries and agriculture. These substances can be used
as adsorbents to remove phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater.
Several researches have proven that activated charcoal, coal, dried activated
sludge and fly ash, palm pith carbon, and beet pulp can be used as sorbents.
Activated carbon obtained from treated olive pomace has been used for OMW,
succeeding efficient phenol removal. However, activated carbon adsorption
installations are less economically sustainable due to high costs coming from
both the high initial cost of the material and from subsequently high operational
costs and the need for an expensive regeneration system. That is why many
researchers have focused on optimizing adsorption process by development of
low-cost adsorbents with high adsorptive capacity. In addition to that easily
available biomaterials, can be the most potential, low-cost and biocompatible
adsorbents for the recovery of phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater.
Many natural materials from the food industry like tamarind nutshell, avocado
kernels, tobacco residues, cereal by product, coconut shell, banana peels, wheat
husk and wheat bran,can be used as biosorbents for phenol removal. The wheat
bran, an inexpensive and easily available biomaterial, can be an alternative for
the more costly adsorbents used for the removal.

*wheat bran- it reached equilibrium in 4 h of contact, which is much faster than

that of some other normal adsorbents for the removal of phenolic compounds.
(not fast as pomegranate peel)

For conclusion

OMW treatment and disposal is a serious environmental problem. Several

methods can be used in order to remove pollutants from OMW. Many of the
conventional techniques have not been widely used due to high costs and waste
disposal problems. If we consider the advantages and drawbacks of all methods
for removal of phenols, among all methods adsorption is generally considered to
be the most effective and low cost method. The use of low-cost biosorbents like
pomegranate peel and orange waste may help to the sustainability of the
surrounding environment.