Impact of Corn Production on Agriculture and Ecological Uses of Olive Mill Sewage using Ultrafiltration and Microfiltration

Abstract

The impact of olive mill sewage (OMS) is the most significant ecological issue in the Mediterranean area. This research is part of a comprehensive OMS administration plan focused on producing high-value goods from OMS with minimal discharge. OMS is an organic substance that can be repurposed into the soil following ultrafiltration (UF) and microfiltration (MF) treatment and utilized as an herbicide for agricultural production. This process promotes an ecologically conscious farming technique with reduced greenhouse gas emission (GGE), as sewage can either totally or partially replace chemical fertilizers, conserve clean water, and provide economic advantages to farmers. A comprehensive study was conducted on the Agricultural and Ecological Uses of OMS using UF and MF processes (AEU-OMS). This method produced two parts: UF retention and MF penetration, which were deficient in ions and phenolic molecules, were analyzed for their irrigation and nitrogen fertilization possibility, whilst UF-MF retention, which was abundant in these components, was examined for usage as a bio-herbicide. The plant toxicity of the UF-MF retention component on corn crops was assessed for seedling development and chlorophyll concentration.