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Russo E, Spallarossa A, Comite A, Pagliero M, Guida P, Belotti V, Caviglia D, Schito AM. Valorization and Potential Antimicrobial Use of Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW) from Italian Olive Oil Production. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11050903. [PMID: 35624767 PMCID: PMC9137489 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11050903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of olive oil generates olive mill wastewater (OMW) which essentially derives from the processing, treatment and pressing of olives in mills. Traditional milling processes require a quantity of water varying between 40 and 120 L per quintal of pressed olives, generating a considerable amount of wastewater. It is thus necessary to reduce process water and enhance its use to implement the concept of a circular economy. To this end, our preliminary work was dedicated to water purification by means of suitable and efficient filtration systems. The microfiltered OMW was firstly concentrated through reverse osmosis. Then, an additional concentration step was carried out via vacuum membrane distillation using hydrophobic hollow fiber membranes. The application of the membrane-based processes allowed the recovery of a purified water and the concentration of valuable polyphenols in a smaller volume. The different fractions obtained from the purification have been tested for the determination of the antioxidant power (DPPH assay) and dosage of polyphenols (Folin–Ciocalteu assay) and were characterized using IR spectroscopy. All samples showed relevant antioxidant activity (percentage range: 10–80%) and total phenolic content in the 1.5–15 g GAE/L range. The obtained fractions were tested for their antimicrobial effect on numerous clinical isolates of Gram-positive and Gram-negative species, resistant and multi-resistant to current antibiotic drugs. OMW samples showed widespread activity against the considered (phyto)pathogens (MIC range 8–16 mg/mL) thus supporting the value of this waste material in the (phyto)pharmaceutical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Russo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrea Spallarossa
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Antonio Comite
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genova, Via Dodecaneso, 31, 16146 Genoa, Italy; (A.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Marcello Pagliero
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genova, Via Dodecaneso, 31, 16146 Genoa, Italy; (A.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Patrizia Guida
- Department of Phisics, University of Genova, Via Dodecaneso, 31, 16146 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Vittorio Belotti
- Department of Mechanical, Energy, Management and Transport Engineering, University of Genova, Via alla Opera Pia, 15, 16100 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Debora Caviglia
- Department of Integrated Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (D.C.); (A.M.S.)
| | - Anna Maria Schito
- Department of Integrated Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (D.C.); (A.M.S.)
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Pagliero M, Comite A, Costa C, Rizzardi I, Soda O. A Single Step Preparation of Photothermally Active Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membranes Using Triethyl Phosphate as a Green Solvent for Distillation Applications. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11110896. [PMID: 34832124 PMCID: PMC8625201 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11110896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Membrane distillation is a growing technology that can address the growing problem of water shortage. The implementation of renewable energy and a reduction in the environmental impact of membrane production could improve the sustainability of this process. With this perspective, porous hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were prepared using triethyl phosphate (TEP) as a green solvent, using the non-solvent induced phase separation technique. Different amounts of carbon black were added to dope solutions to improve the photothermal properties of the membranes and to enable direct heating by solar energy. By optimizing the preparation conditions, membranes with porosity values as high as 87% were manufactured. Vacuum membrane distillation tests carried out using a concentrated NaCl solution at 50 °C showed distillate fluxes of up to 36 L/m2 h and a complete salt rejection. Some preliminary studies on the photothermal performance were also conducted and highlighted the possibility of using such membranes in a direct solar membrane distillation configuration.
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