Use of Pleurotus sajor-caju for the Biotreatment of Olive Mill Wastewater

The use of olive mill wastewaters (OMW) and their possible treatment by Pleurotus sajor caju were investigated. From the physical and chemical properties of OMW, the fungus was able to utilize OMW without any addition of nutrients. OMW was a suitable substrate for the induction of fungal ligninolytic enzymes that are involved in the treatment of OMW and reduction of its toxic compounds. The phenolic compounds content was reduced significantly (from 5.7 to 2.1 g/l) along with enzymes secretion and action. By the end of the treatment process, some phenolic and non-phenolic compounds were completely degraded and the color of OMW was reduced by 60-70%. This treatement process contributed to a notable reduction in COD and BOD contents of OMW indicating the possible application of such treatment on a larger scale.