Recovery of polyphenols from olive mill wastewaters by membrane operations

The production of olive oil is characterized by the production of olive mill wastewaters (OMWWs), which have adverse effects on the environment because of their highly polluting organic load. On the other hand, these effluents contain phenolic compounds that exhibit significant health benefits owing to their antioxidant properties. Therefore, these bioactive compounds have been recognized as potential targets for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. This chapter highlights the potential of membrane operations as an alternative to other conventional separation techniques in the recovery of phenolic compounds from OMWWs with the perspective of allowing their complete exploitation as a renewable feedstock in biorefinery processes. Significant advantages from the use of membranes in integrated systems are analyzed and discussed.