Time domain reflectometry for dielectric characterization of olive mill wastewater contaminated soils
Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is a compound originating from oil mills during oil extraction processes. In the Mediterranean area, more than 30 million m3 of OMW are produced each year, which represents 95-97% of the world production. Such volumes of untreated OMW are usually directly disposed of into...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Agricultural Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.j.agroengineering.org/index.php/jae/article/view/1092 |
| _version_ | 1818885949292019712 |
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| author | Alessandro Comegna Antonio Coppola Giovanna Dragonetti |
| author_facet | Alessandro Comegna Antonio Coppola Giovanna Dragonetti |
| author_sort | Alessandro Comegna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is a compound originating from oil mills during oil extraction processes. In the Mediterranean area, more than 30 million m3 of OMW are produced each year, which represents 95-97% of the world production. Such volumes of untreated OMW are usually directly disposed of into drainage systems, water bodies (such as streams, lagoons and ponds) or are sprinkled on soils, causing potentially severe environmental problems to soils and groundwater. Consequently, there is a serious waste management problem related to the olive oil industry, because these practices no longer being acceptable. In the case of on-land OMW disposal, the characterization and the identification of this contaminant in soils is a fundamental task especially with a view to maintaining the integrity and quality of agroecosystems. In recent years, soils have been extensively studied to detect contaminants by using various geophysical methods. Among such techniques, time domain reflectometry (TDR) has shown, in different contexts, evident sensitivity and resolution capability for the characterization of contaminated soil sites. In order to further exploit the potential of the TDR technique, in this study we conducted a series of laboratory-controlled tests to explore how OMW influences the dielectric response of contaminated soils. This investigation led to the development of an empirical dielectric model to estimate the presence of OMW in variably saturated-contaminated soils with different textures and pedological features. In particular, the soils selected belong to two typical pedological units in southern Italy which account for approximately 90% of the Italian olive plantations and one of the highest concentrations of the olive oil industry in Italy. In these districts, as well as in other European and Mediterranean countries, there is the controversial habit to spread OMW on soils. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T16:13:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6101e229369d499a87d04dc42101ff49 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1974-7071 2239-6268 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T16:13:34Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Agricultural Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-6101e229369d499a87d04dc42101ff492022-12-21T20:14:41ZengPAGEPress PublicationsJournal of Agricultural Engineering1974-70712239-62682020-12-0151410.4081/jae.2020.1092Time domain reflectometry for dielectric characterization of olive mill wastewater contaminated soilsAlessandro Comegna0Antonio Coppola1Giovanna Dragonetti2School of Agricultural Forestry Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, PotenzaSchool of Agricultural Forestry Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), University of Basilicata, PotenzaMediterranean Agronomic Institute, Land and Water Division, IAMB, BariOlive mill wastewater (OMW) is a compound originating from oil mills during oil extraction processes. In the Mediterranean area, more than 30 million m3 of OMW are produced each year, which represents 95-97% of the world production. Such volumes of untreated OMW are usually directly disposed of into drainage systems, water bodies (such as streams, lagoons and ponds) or are sprinkled on soils, causing potentially severe environmental problems to soils and groundwater. Consequently, there is a serious waste management problem related to the olive oil industry, because these practices no longer being acceptable. In the case of on-land OMW disposal, the characterization and the identification of this contaminant in soils is a fundamental task especially with a view to maintaining the integrity and quality of agroecosystems. In recent years, soils have been extensively studied to detect contaminants by using various geophysical methods. Among such techniques, time domain reflectometry (TDR) has shown, in different contexts, evident sensitivity and resolution capability for the characterization of contaminated soil sites. In order to further exploit the potential of the TDR technique, in this study we conducted a series of laboratory-controlled tests to explore how OMW influences the dielectric response of contaminated soils. This investigation led to the development of an empirical dielectric model to estimate the presence of OMW in variably saturated-contaminated soils with different textures and pedological features. In particular, the soils selected belong to two typical pedological units in southern Italy which account for approximately 90% of the Italian olive plantations and one of the highest concentrations of the olive oil industry in Italy. In these districts, as well as in other European and Mediterranean countries, there is the controversial habit to spread OMW on soils.https://www.j.agroengineering.org/index.php/jae/article/view/1092Soil contaminationsoil-olive mill wastewater mixturesdielectric modelstime domain reflectometry. |
| spellingShingle | Alessandro Comegna Antonio Coppola Giovanna Dragonetti Time domain reflectometry for dielectric characterization of olive mill wastewater contaminated soils Journal of Agricultural Engineering Soil contamination soil-olive mill wastewater mixtures dielectric models time domain reflectometry. |
| title | Time domain reflectometry for dielectric characterization of olive mill wastewater contaminated soils |
| title_full | Time domain reflectometry for dielectric characterization of olive mill wastewater contaminated soils |
| title_fullStr | Time domain reflectometry for dielectric characterization of olive mill wastewater contaminated soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Time domain reflectometry for dielectric characterization of olive mill wastewater contaminated soils |
| title_short | Time domain reflectometry for dielectric characterization of olive mill wastewater contaminated soils |
| title_sort | time domain reflectometry for dielectric characterization of olive mill wastewater contaminated soils |
| topic | Soil contamination soil-olive mill wastewater mixtures dielectric models time domain reflectometry. |
| url | https://www.j.agroengineering.org/index.php/jae/article/view/1092 |
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