Characterization of microorganisms involved in biodegradation of olive oil mill watewater. (c2004)

Abstract

Olive oil mill wastewaters (Zibar) contain phenolic compounds that are recalcitrant to biodegradation and partially responsible for its phytotoxicity. The environmental problems and potential hazards caused by OMW in the Mediterranean area has prompted many countries to develop new technologies to reduce the OMW pollution impacts on the environment. Different chemical and biological treatments were developed including the use of microbial biotechnology which mainly focuses on aerobic procedures for degradation. The present work was initiated to study the physio-chemical characteristics of the Lebanese OMW and to identify and characterize the microbial population. Seven bacterial cultures (Proteus penneri/vulgaris, Pseudomonas viridilivida, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pseudomonas fluorescence biotype F, Pseudomonas sp., Pseudomonas mendocina, Bacillus cereus/ thuringiensisj and two yeast cultures (Candida boidini and Candida mogii) showing lipolytic activity were isolated and purified.