Recovery of phenolic compounds from table olive processing wastewaters using cloud point extraction method

Table olive processing wastewaters lead to large environmental problems mainly due to its relatively high phenolic content. In the present study, the Cloud Point Extraction (CPE) technique was used to preconcentrate the natural phenolic compounds from table olive processing wastewaters (TOPW) using three different nonionic surfactants: Genapol X-080, Triton X100 and Tween 80. The optimum conditions for the CPE of phenolic compounds were studied with respect to different experimental parameters, surfactant concentration, pH of the solution, equilibrium temperature and incubation time. The most appropriate conditions were found to be 10% of surfactant (w/v), a pH value of 2, a temperature of 70 degrees C and an equilibrium time of 30 min. The recovery factors of phenolic compounds from TOPW with one step CPE under optimized conditions were 62%, 65% and 68% using 10% of Tween 80, Triton X100 and Genapol X-080, respectively.