Dephenolization, dearomatization and detoxification of olive mill wastewater with sonication combined with additives and radical scavengers

In this study, the effects of some additives [manganese (III) oxide (Mn3O4), Cu+2, Fe0 and potassium iodate (KIO3)] and some radical scavengers [sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), perfluorohexane (C6F14) and t-butyl alcohol (C4H10O)] on the sonication of olive mill effluent wastewater (OMW) were investigated since the wastewaters of this industry are removed with low efficiencies. The maximum total phenol and total aromatic amines (TAAs) removal efficiencies were 88% and 79%, respectively, at 60 °C with only 150 min sonication. The maximum phenol removal was found as 98% with 19 mg L−1 perfluorohexane and 5 mg L−1 Fe0 while the maximum TAAs removal was 99% with 16 mg L−1 KIO3. Catechol, tyrosol, quercetin, caffeic acid, 4-methyl catechol, 2-phenylphenol (2-PHE) and 3-phenyl phenol (3-PHE) were detected as phenol intermediates while trimethlyaniline, aniline, o-toluidine, o-anisidine, dimethylaniline, ethylbenzene and durene were identified as TAAs in the OMW. The maximum acute toxicity removals were 96% and 99% in Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna, respectively. Total phenol, TAAs and the toxicity in an OMW were removed efficiently and cost-effectively through sonication.