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In Spain and other Mediterranean countries, significant quantities of semi-solid olive mill waste are generated, which should be preferentially applied to agricultural soils to close nutrient cycles. However, two-phase olive mill waste (termed alperujo in Spanish) is known to pose risks to soil quality and plant production when applied to soil in large quantities. Alperujo has high contents of polyphenol substances, which can inhibit microbial growth and are also phytotoxic in nature. However, when applied in appropriate quantities and following specific methods, it is possible that the practice may not pose any risks, and this requires evaluation. As a waste management option, direct application of alperujo can supply plant nutrients and organic matter to degradation-prone Mediterranean soils. In order to validate this circular economy fertilization and soil protection strategy, an 18-month field experiment was undertaken, applying moderate quantities of alperujo on permanent crop groves throughout the Spanish region of Valencia. Eleven experimental parcels with permanent crops managed by farmers were identified to test two scenarios: a single application of 10 t/ha, and a second application of 10 t/ha after 10 months. Soil chemical parameters were assessed at 0, 6, 10, and 18 months. Soil organic carbon, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, pH, electrical conductivity, nitrates, and polyphenol contents were modified by alperujo application, but these effects were highly transient in nature, with generally no lasting effects after 4–6 months for either application scenario. Also, qualitative evaluations carried out by farmers revealed few effects, although some reductions in erosive processes and improvements in plant vigor were noted. As such, based on the measured parameters, it is concluded that the direct soil application of alperujo olive mill wastes at low application rates did not lead to any lasting detrimental effects on soil quality or compromise the productivity of permanent crops in this Mediterranean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Olive oil production is the main economic interest in olive orchards, but this industrial process generates large amounts of a by-product called 'alperujo', which is very negative to the environment. When composted, it generates a product useful for fertilizing many crops, and the objective of the work was to evaluate its impact on the ant community in two diverse types of olive crop management: a superintensive grove (no-tillage, with a cover crop, irrigated) and a traditional grove (tillage, no cover crop, rain-fed). The main conclusion was that the addition of compost did not alter the presence of ants and the composition of the species in each grove, but the type of management could have influenced the abundance of ants (much more abundant in the superintensive than in the traditional grove) and, secondarily, the composition of the species. Industrial production of olive oil generates large amounts of solid waste called 'alperujo'. Its compost can fertilize many crops, especially olives. Furthermore, superintensive orchards are increasing their surface globally due to higher production and savings in different costs. Ants are considered an important part of the arthropod community in olive orchards and could even play a significant role in pest control. The tree canopy and ground were sampled to compare the ant assemblage in plots fertilized with compost and mineral products in two groves with different types of crop management (superintensive and traditional) over two years. The numbers of ants in both types of fertilization in each grove were not statistically different (p > 0.05), indicating that the type of fertilization did not have a significant impact on its populations in the ground or in the canopy, but the number of individuals was significantly higher in the superintensive grove than in the traditional grove (both in the ground and in the canopy, p < 0.01). The most frequent species in the ground were Pheidole pallidula, Plagiolepis smitzii and Aphaenogaster senilis (superintensive grove) and Pheidole pallidula, Tetramorium gr semilaeve, Plagiolepis pygmaea, and Tapinoma nigerrimum (traditional grove). In the canopy, the most frequent species were Plagiolepis spp. in both groves. Differences in ant densities and species between the groves could be due to the different management, especially of the soil, but it must be confirmed using more replicas and longer periods of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to assess the inhibitory effects of an aqueous extract from olive oil mill waste (alperujo) on the growth of a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) cocktail consisting of various strains of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum species. For this purpose, response surface methodology was employed using two independent variables (pH levels 3.5–5.55; hydroxytyrosol concentration ranging from 0.93–2990 ppm). The response variable was the average inhibition per treatment on the LAB cocktail (expressed as a percentage). The developed model identified significant terms, including the linear effect of hydroxytyrosol and pH, their interaction, and the quadratic effect of pH. Maximum inhibition of the LAB cocktail was observed at progressively higher concentrations of hydroxytyrosol and lower pH values. Therefore, complete inhibition of LAB in the synthetic culture medium could only be achieved for concentrations of 2984 ppm hydroxytyrosol at a pH of 3.95. These findings suggest that extracts derived from "alperujo" could be utilized as a natural preservative in acidified foods with a bitter flavor and antioxidant requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophilic phenols are the main bioactive compounds in alperujo. Among them, 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), Hydroxytyrosol (HT) and Tyrosol (Ty), are the most relevant and deeply studied. These compounds exhibit high antioxidant capacity and a wide range of health benefits as well as technologically promising properties. Given that, their recovery represents an attractive opportunity to valorize this by-product. In this work low thermal treatments were applied to alperujo in order to obtain phenol-enriched liquid fractions. Optimization assays combining different levels of temperature (30 to 90 ºC), time (60 to 180 min) and water content (70 to 90%), followed by response surface methodologies were performed. The results indicated that by applying optimal conditions, is possible to obtain theoretical yields of Total phenols, DHPG, HT and Ty of 2.4, 957.8, 3.4 and 6.4 times greater, respectively, than raw dry alperujo. Interestingly, all the evaluated conditions can be reproduced with low investment in a standard olive oil industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive oil production using the two-phase extraction system generates large amounts of biomass named alperujo , which has high percentage of water, slightly acidic pH, and high concentration of salts, organic matter, and phenolic compounds. Due to the presence of these components, alperujo is a significant source of environmental pollution, hindering the disposal of this waste. Nevertheless, some phenolic compounds such as tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, have high nutraceutical and antioxidant power and could have potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This work aimed to evaluate the ability of different alperujo-derived media, with different levels of phenolic compounds, to sustain the growth and carotenoid production by yeasts from Rhodotorula genera (R. mucilaginosa LPSC 638 , R. glutinis Y54, and R. graminis Y52), as well as to prospect the biotechnological production of carotenoids in these media. The yeasts grew and produced carotenoids in all media, although growth was better in dephenolized media. The highest amount of carotenoids (43.0 ± 3.1 mg/g dry yeast) was obtained with R. glutinis Y54 grown in a thermally treated and dephenolized medium. Our study represents a novel approach to valorize alperujo with a dual benefit, the recovery of valuable compounds, i. e. phenolic compounds, and the bioproduction of new ones, i.e. carotenoids. [Display omitted] • Alperujo-derived mediums are suitable for bioprocess. • Dephenolization improves Rhodotorula growth and carotenoid production. • Rhodothorula growth reduces alperujo-derived mediums phytotoxicity. • Using Rhodotorula strains isolated from olive brines improves the whole process. • Dephenolization and use of endogenous strains gave higher carotenoid production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agroecological practices make it possible to reduce the negative environmental and socio-economic impact on agriculture. Among these practices, is the use of composts and biol found as fertilizers, fertilizers or organic amendments with an effectiveness, in many cases, higher than that exerted by natural manures. In this context, the agri-food industry generates a great variety and quantity of waste and by-products, which can potentially be used as fertilizers and soil amendments due to their high content of organic matter and plant nutrients. Therefore, the objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the physicochemical and biochemical composition of the biol with five different concentrations of alperujo (5, 10, 15, 2 and 25%). The unidirectional analysis of variance of the results obtained in the concentration of organic matter, organic carbon, phosphates, phenols, nitrates and protein did not show a significant statistical difference, however, the authors recommend the concentration of alperujo 25% due to presenting the lower concentration of phenols and high concentration of organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common human cancers. There is an interest in controlling and treating BC and other types of cancer via the use of natural substances and/or combination chemotherapy. Modified forms of pectin have been reported to possess anticancer bioactivity related to the interaction of galactosyl, a main component of pectin, with galectin-3, a carbohydrate-binding protein that is overexpressed on many types of cancer cells. In this study, the antiproliferative effect on BC of novel modified pectins extracted from olives was evaluated. Pectoliv extracts, with high polyphenol content associated to polysaccharides rich in pectin, exhibited an important antiproliferative capacity in vitro against four human BC cells lines, RT112, T24, J82, and SCaBER. Pectoliv treatment reduced the expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 and significantly inhibited the agglutination of erythrocytes. Thus, Pectoliv may have the potential for development as a novel galectin-3 inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal treatments are the latest developments in the olive oil biorefinery industry to extract bioactive compounds from its by-products, mainly the alperujo. To reach these goals and reduce energy consumption the utilization of deep eutectic solvents has been studied. An initial screening led to define a eutectic mix of choline chloride, glycolic and oxalic acid (DES9) as one of the adequate solvents to increase the solubilization of phenols and sugars, with a temperature reduction from 180 °C to 120 °C. DES9 increased the concentration of acid sugars by six times and the concentration of hydroxytyrosol by 30 times, to up to 85.81 mg/g of dry matter. The activity of DES9 is not due to the activity of each component separately or to the mixture of the two acids, but to the eutectic mixture of all of them. In the future, these solvents could improve the extraction, stability and bioavailability of bioactive compounds and the biorefinery of alperujo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • p-Coumaroyl-secologanoside (comselogoside) was isolated from alperujo extract. • Trans-comselogoside exposed to UV radiation transformed into its cis -isomer. • This is the first time that this cis -comselogoside was identified. • Detection of trans and cis isomer s were substantiated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. • Cis -isomer showed less antiradical ability but a synergistic effect with trans. p-Coumaroyl-6́-secologanoside (comselogoside) is a secoiridoid identified in large amounts in olive fruits, although no studies in vitro or in vivo of comselogoside have been reported. This work focuses on the recovery and purification of this compound from olive mill waste (alperujo). The successive isolation on Amberlite XAD-16 and Sephadex LH-20 resins, allowed a comselogoside extract with 80–85% of purity. A photoisomerization of the vinyl-double bond in the p-coumaroyl moiety occurred when the extract was exposed to ultraviolet radiation and a mixture of the tran s and cis -isomers was obtained. Both isomers were characterized using NMR, mass spectroscopy, and UV spectrometry. The J (coupling constant) of the protons on the C7 and C8 on the unsaturated chain were found to be the difference between cis (12.8 Hz) and trans- (15.9 Hz) comselogoside. Cis -isomer exhibited lower radical-scavenging activity than trans , although a synergistic effect occurred when the cis -isomer was supplement by the trans -isomer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Alperujos" of Arbequina olives harvested in 2010 and 2011 and of Nevadillo olives in 2012 were evaluated in order to reduce their pollutant load by recovering the phenols with antioxidant properties. First, three successive extractions with water (4 °C, 120 min) were carried out to evaluate by spectrophotometry the total phenol contents, which significantly varied with cultivar and harvest year. The combined aqueous extracts of "alperujo" (combined-AEA) showed high pollutant loads with volatile solids to total solids ratios close to 1 suggesting high organic material contents and very low total phenols to chemical oxygen demand ratios. Second, phenols were recovered from the combined-AEA using ethyl acetate. By experimental design, the following conditions were found to maximize phenol recovery: temperature = 20 °C, time = 120 min, pH of aqueous extract = 2.00 and solvent/extract ratio (v/v) = 3:1. Up to 41.6% of the phenols were recovered from the combined-AEA after three successive extractions using recycled solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of thermal treatments is helping to optimize the management of waste generated by the two-phase olive oil extraction system. A new treatment reactor, based on the steam explosion system, has been scaled up to the industrial level and offers several physical and chemical advantages. The reactor has been adapted to work into the pomace oil extractors. Chemical advantages include the efficient solubilization of simple phenols, like hydroxytyrosol, and sugars in the liquid fraction, and a significant reduction of humidity and toxicity of the residual solid fraction, in which cellulose and oil are concentrated, making the solid residual waste more suitable for subsequent bioprocess applications. All of these parameters will lead to the widespread use of steam treatment in the near future to improve the management and obtain the maximum exploitation of this byproduct. • Thermal treatment for alperujo is helping to optimize it industrial management. • A new treatment reactor has been scaled up to the industrial level. • The reactor offers several physical and chemical advantages. • The advantages will lead to the widespread use of the treatment in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pomace is an oil mill byproduct and the raw material for extracting olive pomace oil. The pomace is stored several months in ponds until it is processed. Tests have been carried out in stored olive pastes, malaxated with and without different coadjuvants. These pastes have been equated to the oil mill pomace. Coadjuvants increase the water pH in 0.8 units. 89.5% of the initial oil is recovered from pastes without coadjuvant; 91.1% from pastes with calcium carbonate and 80.5% from pastes with talc. The free acidity is 1.9%, 2.6% and 2.1% respectively. The maximum amount of refined pomace oil is obtained when calcium carbonate is used and the minimum when talc is used. Moisten the adjuvants affects talc and calcium carbonate differently, although both of them easily releases the original micro-powder. Moisture does not affect the technological action of the coadjuvants or modify their physical characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two‐phase centrifugation system of olive oil extraction produces huge amounts of olive pomace called alperujo that could be a good source of bioactive substances. However, alperujo is currently stored in open air ponds before it is dried and submitted for extraction of the residual oil. The aim of this work is to study the evolution of phenolic and triterpenic acids in alperujo during its storage and extraction processes on an industrial scale. Alperujo is stored in large open air ponds, dried and the residual oil is extracted with hexane over a course of a year for two consecutive olive seasons.The storage of alperujo did not cause great changes in the content of these substances in the paste although the pomace olive oil is enriched in triterpenic compounds, mainly oleanolic acid. By contrast, the drying and extraction steps gives rise to a great reduction in the concentration of phenolic compounds. Likewise, triterpenic acids are very stable during the extraction process, and an enrichment of them is detected in the extracted alperujo that can reach up to 7–8 g kg−1 in these substances, particularly maslinic acid. Practical Applications: There are many studies, methods, and patents to extract bioactive substances from olive by‐products, particularly from the fresh olive pomace called alperujo. However, this study is the first to explore the stored and extracted alperujo as a good source of phenolic and triterpenic substances. Specifically, triterpenic acids were very stable during the storage and drying steps and extracted alperujo was highly enriched in them. This research will contribute to the valorization of olive by‐products. Extracted alperujo is a very good source of triterpenic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onion is an allogamous species with protandry, as anthers release pollen before the stigma is receptive. Thus, insect pollination is needed to produce seeds. When male sterile lines are used, an efficient pollinator is important to ensure pollen transfer to the stigma. Therefore, increasing seed yield depends on increasing bee activity. Seed yield is variable in hybrid lines and lower than open-pollinated varieties, with a decrease of up to 60%. Bee attractants sometimes are used to influence worker bees towards flowers for pollination. The objective of this work is to use a food industry waste, such as olive pomace, as bee attractant upon application of the water extract on onion umbels. The effectiveness of this by-product in enhancing pollination efficiency was evaluated and compared to untreated controls. Male-sterile lines, as well as a fertile line, were used in commercial fields and environmental variables were registered. Pollination effectiveness was measured by seed yield. Olive pomace water extracts (OPWE), rich in bioactive compounds, from local industries were evaluated. Some compounds present in the OPWE were analyzed, identified and quantified. The OPWEs were applied during flowering, at different times and correlated with seed yield and the frequency of bee visits. After 3 years of study, we can assert that the application of OPWE enhances honeybee pollination efficiency, and as consequence improves onion seed yield. [Display omitted] • The application of olive pomace water extract enhances onion seed yield. • Revaluation of olive pomace to improve onion seed yield. • A waste from food industry, such as olive pomace, was used as bee attractant. • Olive pomace water extract is rich in bioactive compounds. • Male as well male sterile lines showed an improvement in seed yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of a novel industrial process based on the hydrothermal treatment of olive oil waste (alperujo) led to a final liquid phase that contained a high concentration of simple phenolic compounds. In this study the effect of pH on phenol extraction with ethyl acetate from the aqueous phase of hydrothermally treated alperujo at 160 °C/60 min (without modification, pH 4.5, and adjusted to pH 2.5) was evaluated, beside the increase of hydroxytyrosol during the storage. The variation of the concentration of phenolic compounds in each extract was analyzed by HPLC. The phenolic extract obtained at pH 4.5 presented a higher proportion of total and individual phenols and better antioxidant capacity in vitro than the extract obtained at pH 2.5. The use of lower pH values enhances the concentration of hydroxytyrosol in the liquid diminishing the storage times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a microwave (MW) pre-treatment on two-phase olive mill solid residue (OMSR) or alperujo with a view to enhancing its anaerobic digestibility was studied. The MW pre-treatment was carried out at a power of 800 W and at a targeted temperature of 50 °C using different heating rates and holding times. The following specific energies were applied: 4377 kJ·kg TS−1 (MW1), 4830 kJ·kg TS−1 (MW2), 7170 kJ·kg TS−1 (MW3) and 7660 kJ·kg TS−1 (MW4). The maximum methane yield, 395±1 mL CH4·g VSadded−1, was obtained for MW4. The effect of the pre-treatment on the kinetics of the process was also studied. The methane production curves generated during the batch tests showed a first exponential stage and a second sigmoidal stage for all the cases studied. In the first stage, the kinetic constant for the pre-treatment MW1 was 54.8% higher than that obtained for untreated OMSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determinate phenolic, flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacity in methanolic extract from three Alperujo varieties. Alperujo Barnea showed the highest concentration of phenols and flavonoid. The greater hydroxytyrosol content was obtained in the same extract (4.93 ± 0.37 µg/mg extract), whereas the greater tyrosol content (0.23 ± 0.012 µg/mg extract) was found in Arbequina extract. These results were correlated with the greatest radical scavenging and the highest inhibition of lipoperoxidation process observed in Barnea extract (IC50of 27.9 ± 1.04 µg/mL; IC5022.8 ± 3.5 µg/mL, respectively). In spite of differences, alperujo extracts exhibited notable antioxidant capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive mill waste (OMW) creates a major environmental problem due to the difficulty of further waste processing. In this work we present an approach to give OMW added value by using it for the production of biosurfactants. Two bacterial species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis, were grown with OMW as the sole carbon source. Glycerol and waste frying oil were used as comparative carbon sources. B. subtilis produced surfactin (a lipopeptide) at a maximum concentration of 3.12 mg/L with 2% w/v of OMW in the medium, dropping to 0.57 mg/L with 10% w/v of OMW. In contrast, P. aeruginosa produced 8.78 mg/L of rhamnolipid with 2% w/v OMW increasing to 191.46 mg/L with 10% w/v OMW. The use of solvent-extracted OMW reduced the biosurfactant production by 70.8% and 88.3% for B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa respectively. These results confirm that OMW is a potential substrate for biosurfactant production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study explored the in vitro antioxidant and anti-platelet activities of hydroxytyrosol, hydroxytyrosol acetate, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol and two phenolic olive extracts. These compounds and extracts were obtained from a new industrial process to hydrothermally treat the alperujo (160 °C/60 min), a by-product of olive oil extraction. Methods: The extracts and the purified compounds were obtained chromatographically using both ionic and adsorbent resins. The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring inhibition of human platelet aggregation and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes of vitamin E-deficient rats. Results: The positive effect of the extracts on the inhibition of platelet aggregation is showed, being higher in the case of hydroxytyrosol acetate up to 38 %, and for the first time, its synergist effect with hydroxytyrosol has been proved, obtaining more than double of inhibition. The phenolic extracts and the isolated phenols showed good results for inhibiting the lipid oxidation, up to 62 and 25 %, respectively. A synergistic effect occurred when the hydroxytyrosol acetate and the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol were supplemented by hydroxytyrosol. Conclusion: These results suggest the extract and these compounds obtained from a novel industrial process could be natural alternatives for the prevention of diseases related to cardiovascular disorder or oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Alperujo is the paste generated from the two-phase extraction system of olive oil. This wet pomace must be stored for several months and, during this period, the formation of 4-ethyphenol provokes a strong off-odour. The aim of this work was to identify the microorganisms able to produce this volatile phenol. RESULTS Yeast and bacterial strains were isolated from stored alperujo and tested for their ability to metabolize p-coumaric acid and form 4-ethylphenol. Among them, Lactobacillus pentosus was the microorganism that both in synthetic medium and alperujo gave rise to 4-ethylphenol formation. This microorganism did not grow in alperujo acidified to pH 2, thereby confirming that acidification as the best method to control odour emissions during alperujo storage. CONCLUSION Lactic acid bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus pentosus, can be responsible for the formation of the off-odour caused by 4-ethylphenol during the storage of alperujo. This odour can be prevented by acidifying the alperujo. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pectin fraction released from steam-treated alperujo at 160 °C for 30, 45, and 60 min was purified and characterized. Differences were observed in the composition, and physical and biological activities of the pectin extracts, depending on the length of the thermal treatment. The extracts presented a low molecular weight in the range of 2–40 KDa, a high content of neutral sugars, and a high percentage of acetylation. In comparison with commercial pectins, the extracts had low water and high oil holding capacities, a normal emulsifying activity and a similar emulsion stability to that of apple pectin. For the three pectin extracts studied, the in vitro analyses showed considerable bile-acid binding activity and a glucose retardation index similar to the values obtained for citrus pectins. Thus, the pectins isolated from olive oil waste have suitable physical and biological properties for commercial use. Pectin extraction from alperujo, a sizeable by-product of the olive oil manufacturing process, would facilitate the use and subsequent reduction of this environmentally damaging organic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of poultry manure or goat/sheep manure in the co-composting of the two-phase olive-mill cake “alperujo” (ALP) with olive leaf (OL) is compared by studying organic-matter mineralization and humification processes during composting and the characteristics of the end products. For this, two different piles (P1 and P2) were prepared using ALP with OL mixed with poultry manure (PM) and goat/sheep manure (GSM), respectively, and composted by the turned windrow composting system. Throughout the composting process, a number of parameters were monitored, such as temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), OM losses, total organic carbon (Corg), total nitrogen (Nt), Corg/Ntratio, and the germination index (GI). In both piles, the temperature exceeded 55 °C for more than 2 weeks, which ensured maximum pathogen reduction. Organic-matter losses followed a first-order kinetic equation in both piles. The final composts presented a stabilized OM and absence of phytotoxins, as observed in the evolution and final values of the Corg/Ntratio (Corg/Nt < 20) and the germination index (GI > 50 percent). Therefore, composting can be considered as an efficient treatment to recycle this type of waste, obtaining composts with suitable properties that can be safely used in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This work assesses the in vitro antimicrobial activity of an aqueous olive mill waste extract (AE-2) on the growth of diverse cocktails of foodborne pathogens species (Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli , and Salmonella Enterica). The effects were evaluated by Response Surface Methodology, using a two-block (D-optimal and full factorial) sequential design, with two independent variables (hydroxytyrosol concentration 0–3000 ppm and pH 3.5–6.5) and the percentage of inhibition (%I) as the dependent variable. S. Enterica and E. coli behaviours were similar but different from L. monocytogenes and S. aureus. The models predicted the complete inhibition of the four foodborne pathogen cocktails in the region defined by 3.80–3.87 pH and 1200–1314 ppm hydroxytyrosol. Within the experimental region, the model showed the best predictions for L. monocytogenes and the worst for S. Enterica, but the errors never exceeded 46%. This study could promote the use of olive by-products as natural preservatives in the food industry, especially in acidic matrices. • Response Surface Methodology was effective to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of olive mill waste extract. • S. Enterica and E. coli behaviours were similar but different from L. monocytogenes and S. aureus. • The models predicted the complete inhibition of the four foodborne pathogen cocktails. • The model showed the best predictions for L. monocytogenes and the worst for S. Enterica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive oil is an integral ingredient of the “Mediterranean diet”. The olive oil industry generates large quantities of a by-product called “alperujo” (AL) during the two-phase centrifugation system developed in the early nineties. AL could be a potent exploitable source of natural phenolic antioxidants. Our results showed that AL and its distinctive phenols hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol and verbascoside were not genotoxic in the Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART) of Drosophila melanogaster and exerted antigenotoxic activity against DNA oxidative damage generated by hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Alperujo and hydroxytyrosol also exhibited notable antiproliferative and caspase 3-dependent proapoptotic effects toward the human tumoral cell line HL60. AL can provide a cheap and efficient source of chemopreventive phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant properties, becoming a promising and potent therapeutic drug in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently interest has been revived in the use of plant-derived waste oils as renewable replacements for fossil diesel fuel. Olive–pomace oil (OPO) extracted from alperujo (by-product of processed olives for olive oil extraction), and produced it in considerable quantities throughout the Mediterranean countries, can be used for biodiesel production. A steam treatment of alperujo is being implemented in OPO extraction industry. This steam treatment improves the solid–liquid separation by centrifugation and facilitates the drying for further extraction of OPO. It has been verified that the steam treatment of this by-product also increases the concentration of OPO in the resulting treated solid, a key factor from an economic point of view. In the present work, crude OPO from steam-treated alperujo was found to be good source for producing biodiesel. Oil enrichment, acidity, biodiesel yield and fatty acid methyl ester composition were evaluated and compared with the results of the untreated samples. Yields and some general physicochemical properties of the quality of biodiesel were also compared to those obtained with other oils commonly used in biodiesel production. As for biodiesel yield no differences were observed. A transesterification process which included two steps was used (acid esterification followed by alkali transesterification). The maximum biodiesel yield was obtained using molar ratio methanol/triglycerides 6:1 in presence of sodium hydroxide at a concentration of 1% (w/w), reaction temperature 60 °C and reaction time 80 min. Under these conditions the process gave yields of about 95%, of the same order as other feedstock using similar production conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Biodiesel obtained from residual industrial is proposed. [•] Chemical characterized of biodiesel is concordance with standard values. [•] Biodiesel from alperujo is showing as an eco-friendly alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polymeric phenolic fraction (PPF) was isolated by ethyl acetate extraction from hydrolyzed liquids from steam-treated alperujo and characterized. PPF is composed mainly of phenolic compounds with small amounts of carbohydrates, protein and ash. Phenols such as hydroxytyrosol (HT) and tyrosol were bound to PPF during the ethyl acetate extraction. Acid hydrolysis (3N HCl for 10min at 100°C) was used to liberate HT from the PPF. The properties of both sorption and desorption of the PPF were studied to enhance the purification of HT, up to 100%. The antioxidant activities of the PPF were evaluated in vitro using ferric reducing power and DPPH radical scavenging, showing activity but lower than HT and TROLOX. The inhibition of primary oxidation of PPF was similar to both HT and vitamin E. These antioxidant activities of the PPF were not a result of the presence of HT or similar phenols. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Alperujo or olive oil waste was hydrothermally treated at 160 °C for 60 min to increase the phenols in the liquid phase. The extract obtained from the liquid using ethyl acetate extraction was divided into 27 phenolic fractions using adsorbent and polyamide resins. Phenolic alcohols and acids, secoiridoid molecules, elenolic acid derivatives, flavonoids, verbascoside, degradation products of sugar and a polymeric phenolic fraction (PPF) were characterized using HPLC-ESI-MS. The antiradical activity, ferric reducing power and the inhibition of primary and secondary oxidation were examined for each fraction. Hydroxytyrosol was the most abundant phenol in the ethyl acetate extract and possibly the main component responsible for the in vitro antioxidant activity of the entire phenol extract. However, other phenolic and secoiridoid molecules with interesting biological properties were also identified, and the crude extract could be considered a potential source of natural antioxidants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) is a potent antioxidant recently found in the free form in olive oil and table olives. DHPG can be recovered from olive oil solid waste by a hydrothermal treatment. It was observed that an increase in the concentration of DHPG occurred when alperujo aqueous extracts were subjected to mild thermal conditions (post-treatment). This fact indicates that certain solubilized compounds or precursors containing DHPG which is released with the post-treatment. In the present study, the precursors of DHPG were identified and characterized after extraction from alperujo using thermal treatment and purification by fractionation on Amberlite® XAD16 polyamide and semi-preparative reverse-phase HPLC columns. Their structures were elucidated using HPLC coupled to diode array detector (DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The results identified three compounds as precursors, and their structures can be attributed to the diastereoisomeric forms of the two β-hydroxy derivatives of verbascoside and isoverbascoside (β-hydroxyacteoside and β-hydroxyisoacteoside), and 2″-hydroxyoleuropein, all of which contain a DHPG moiety, potentially explaining the increases in the concentration of this phenolic compound in olive oil waste. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Olive grove soils in semi-arid Mediterranean areas are very poor in organic matter and are exposed to progressive degradation processes. Therefore, additions of the olive mill by-products as organic amendments can improve soil quality and hence mitigate the negative environmental and agronomic limitations of these soils. A field study was conducted to assess the short-term effects of two oil mill by-products [olive leaves and alperujo (a two-phase olive mill waste)] and determine soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), the C:N ratio, and their stratification across the soil profile, in an area under Mediterranean conditions. The experimental design consisted on three large plots each spanning a 100m×100m area covered with unirrigated olive trees of the Picual variety less than 30 years old under conventional tillage (CT) in the province of Jaen (southern Spain). One of the plots (CT) was used as control plot and the other two were treated with alperujo (CTa) and olive leaves (CTol), respectively. Soil properties were assessed three years after the by-products were applied. Supplying the soil with the by-products increased C and N stocks. Thus, the SOC stock was 75.4Mgha−1 in CT, 91.5Mgha−1 in CTa and 136.3Mgha−1 in CTol; and the TN stock 12.1, 13.9 and 16.1Mgha−1 in CT, CTa and CTol, respectively. SOC, TN and the C:N ratio in the surface horizon were higher in the treated plots (viz. 18.5gCkg−1, 1.4gNkg−1 and 13.2:1 in CTa, and 84.1gCkg−1, 5.7gNkg−1 and 14.7:1 in CTol) than in the control plot (8.9gCkg−1, 0.9gNkg−1 and 9.8:1, respectively). In addition, application of the by-products improved soil quality (the stratification ratio, SR, for SOC was greater than 2). Oil mill by-products such as olive leaves and alperujo are thus potentially useful as soil amendments since they are effective sources of organic matter and nitrogen, improve soil quality and alleviate the environmental and agronomic limitations of Mediterranean agricultural soils, even those under using CT. In addition, the by-products can be recycled on site. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This work deals with the use of alperujo, the main residue from the two-phase olive oil extraction process, as a raw material in fired clay masonry units production. Different amounts (3, 6 and 12wt%) of clay were substituted by alperujo, and the properties of the resulting ceramic units were compared to those of conventional products. Results show that a number of advantages can be obtained. At 12wt% alperujo addition, masonry units present lower density (1710kgm−3 compared to 1850kgm−3 reference value) and higher thermal insulation effectiveness (18% reduction in the bulk of fired clay thermal conductivity). With respect to mechanical properties, the fired bending strength attained of approximately 14Nmm−2 is sufficiently high for this type of unit. In addition, the heating value obtained from the organic content of the added alperujo can cause a decrease in the heating requirements in the firing process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Alperujo was pre-treated in a hydrothermal reactor to solubilize the oligosaccharides. The liquid was extracted with ethyl acetate to remove the phenols, and then its sugar content was sequentially precipitated with ethanol:water solutions and ultrafiltered, obtaining oligosaccharide fractions in the range of 3000 to 1000 Da that represent 23% of the total. One of the two major fractions was rich in pectic polymers, and the composition of the other fraction indicated the possible presence of xyloglucans and xylo-oligosaccharides. Hydrolysis was used to decrease the molecular weight of oligosaccharides by means of TFA or HCl for the neutral or enzymes for the pectic oligosaccharides. They were isolated by adsorption and size exclusion chromatography and identified by HPLC, GC, ESI-MS and MS/MS. The presence of tetra-, tri- and di-galacturonic acids was confirmed, and different structures for neutral and acidic xylo-oligosaccharides and oligosaccharides of xyloglucan with low molecular weight have been proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A simple, fast and reliable method to quantify, simultaneously, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), hydroxytyrosol (HT) and tyrosol (Ty) extracted and purified successfully from olive oil by-product, called alperujo, in animal plasma and tissues samples has been developed using a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with UV–Vis detection. Extraction of compounds is based on solid-phase extraction for plasma and homogenisation with zirconia beads and centrifugation for tissues. Calibration curves were linear for all three phenols at a relatively low concentration range (0.05–50μg/mL). This method has acceptable accuracy (91–95% in plasma and 63–100% in tissues), precision (1.11–8.26% intra-day and 0.32–9.5% inter-day) and sensitivity for detecting low concentrations of these phenols in small plasma volumes and several animal tissues such as liver, heart, kidney, muscle, testes, white adipose tissue (WAT) and brain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Temporal dynamic of several microbiological properties in two trace element polluted soils with different pH (soil A pH 4 and soil B pH 7) under the influence of various by-products during a 40-week-period was studied. The experiment was carried out in microcosms under controlled conditions. For each soil four treatments were established: biosolid compost (BC), fresh “alperujo” (AL), sugarbeet lime (SL), and a control (C) without by-product addition. Soil was sampled eight times during the experiment. The microbiological properties studied were: microbial biomass C (MBC), dehydrogenase, arylsulphatase and protease enzyme activities. Different fractions of organic C were also evaluated. In acid soil increases in pH caused by the addition of the alkaline by-products (SL and BC) decreased trace element availability and slight improved biochemical status during the first weeks of incubation. Although the reduction of trace element availability was not as effective as in the case of alkaline amendments, AL produced higher increase of WSC that stimulated biological activity. In neutral soil, with low trace element availability, the addition of by-products did not cause any change. Nonetheless, in this soil microbial biomass and activities were generally higher in by-product treated soil compared to control. Remediation practices had a positive and significant effect on enhance microbial activity in the contaminated soil. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the extent to which lamb carcass quality and fat composition could be altered by applying a dry olive cake-based ration instead of a conventional ration or pasture feeding. Three treatments were compared in a completely randomized experiment using 36 single male Suffolk Down lambs with an initial age and live weight of 80 d and 25 kg, respectively. The three treatments were: (a) suckling lambs kept with their mothers on annual Mediterranean grassland (GRAZE); (b) weaned stall-fed lambs on a control ration (CONC); and (c) weaned stall-fed lambs on an olive cake-based ration (CAKE). At the end of the 28-d experimental period, lambs were slaughtered, carcass quality evaluated, and samples of subcutaneous fat analyzed for fatty acids. Treatments did not differ in weight gain or carcass weight and quality, but highly significant differences were found in several fatty acid contents. CAKE animals had reduced palmitic acid as well as increased oleic and stearic acid contents. Atherogenic and thrombogenic indices improved with cake feeding. Principal component and discriminant analyses clearly differentiated treatments suggesting they could be applicable for traceability purposes. A laboratory experiment demonstrated that with or without added vitamin E, the dry olive cake did not alter its lipid properties with increased storage time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to study the effect of soil application of a solid waste from olive oil production (alperujo) on diuron and terbuthylazine retention in the field. Laboratory sorption experiments of the herbicides in unamended soil and soil amended with alperujo (A) or composted alperujo (CA) were performed, and a field study was conducted for 2 consecutive years. Three subplots composed of four olive trees were randomly selected from a 50-ha olive grove (SE Spain) for three different treatments: soil without amendment (S plots), soil amended with uncomposted alperujo (S + A plots) and soil amended with composted alperujo (S +CA plots). Uncomposted alperujo was applied to S + A plots during 4 consecutive years at the rate of 18Mgha¿1 and composted alperujo was applied to S +CA plots for the first time on April 2005 at the rate of 8Mgha¿1. On April 2006, 15Mgha¿1 of A was applied to S + A plots, and 13Mgha¿1 of CA was applied to S +CA plots. Manual application of both A and CA was followed by soil tillage to a 5cm depth. A commercial herbicide formulation (28.5% diuron and 28.5% terbuthylazine) was applied to S, S + A and S +CA subplots and soils were sampled periodically at 0¿10, 10¿20 and 20¿30cm depth and extracted for their herbicide content. Results from laboratory studies indicated higher herbicide sorption upon amendment with both A and CA when compared to unamended soil. Field studies revealed higher amounts of diuron and terbuthylazine in every plot and almost all sampling dates in the first 10cm of soil. Soil amendment with alperujo gave rise to higher amounts of herbicide in the soil when compared to unamended soil, and this is specially significant in the case of the herbicide diuron and plots amended with uncomposted alperujo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) has been used for the simultaneous isolation of polar and nonpolar compounds from alperujo using methanol–water and n-hexane as extractant system. Multivariate methodology has been used to establish the optimum extraction conditions. The target fractions (phenol compounds and fatty acids) were quantitatively extracted within 14min. Following leaching and separation of the two phases by centrifugation, the polar and nonpolar fractions were analysed by HPLC–MS–MS and GC–MS, respectively. The proposed method was compared with the reference method for the isolation of each fraction (Folch method and stirring-based method for fatty acids and biophenols extraction, respectively) in terms of efficiency and extract composition. The paramount importance of both fractions, the simplicity of the MAE approach and the low costs of the raw material make advisable the implementation of the proposed method at an industrial scale. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Studies were carried out on decolorization of semisolid olive mill residues called “alperujo” (AL), by four strains of Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trametes versicolor, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Aspergillus niger in solid state frementation (SSF). Fungal strains were selected by their ability to grow on olive mill waste water. The treatment of AL with P. chrysosporium led to higher removal of organic matter and decolorization than P. cinnabarinus and T. versicolor. The strain A. niger leads to a relative improvement of the biodegradability of OMW. Using P. chrysosporium, the treatment of AL substrate in SSF showed an efficient decolorization and an appreciable COD and phenolic content removal only in the presence of a support. Sugarcane bagasse used as support improved the oxygen transfer in the culture. The extracellular fluid of P. chrysosporium (composed mainly of LiP) exhibited high ability to decolorize AL showing the efficiency of the enzyme produced. A percentage of sugarcane bagasse equal to 30% was an optimal condition to improve the growth and the decolorization of AL. The results showed good prospects of using the three basidiomycetes, in particular P. chrysosporium, for the Decolorization of AL. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the olive fruits there is a large amount of bioactive compounds and substances of high interest. Many of them are known by owing health beneficial properties that contribute to protective effect of the virgin olive oil. During olive oil processing, most of them remain in the olive oil wastes. Although, olive-mill wastewater (OMWW) or "alpechin", olive oil cake (OOC), and the new by-product, known as "alperujo" in Spain and generated by the two-phase extraction process, represent a major disposal and potentially severe pollution problem for the industry, they are also promising source of substances of high value. This review summarises the last knowledge on the utilisation of residual products, with more than 90 references including articles and patents, which are promising with regard to future application. All these investigations have been classified into two options, the recovery of valuable natural constituents and the bioconversion into useful products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 10 years the manufacture of olive oil has undergone important evolutionary changes in the equipment used for the separation of olive oil from the remaining components. The latest development has been the introduction of a two-phase centrifugation process in which a horizontally-mounted centrifuge is used for a primary separation of the olive oil fraction from the vegetable solid material and vegetation water. Therefore, the new two-phase olive oil mills produce three identifiable and separate waste streams. These are: 1) the wash waters from the initial cleansing of the fruit; 2) the wash waters from the secondary centrifuge and 3) the aqueous solid residues from the primary centrifugation. As well as offering process advantages they also reduce the water consumption of the mill. The introduction of this technology was carried out in 90% of Spanish olive oil factories. Therefore, the new two-phase olive mill effluents (TPOME) are made up of the mixture of effluents (1) and (2), the total volume of TPOME generated being around 0.25 l/kg of olives processed. In addition, the solid residue (two-phase olive pomace, TPOP) has a high organic matter concentration giving an elevated polluting load and it cannot be easily handled by traditional technology which deals with the conventional three-phase olive cake. So, this paper aims to report the main features and characteristics of TPOME, and of TPOP, as compared to the classical olive mill wastewater (OMW) and olive cake derived from the three-phase manufacturing process. The advantages and disadvantages of the two-phase decanting process will be summarized. Among the treatments reported for TPOME, aerobic processes in completely mixed and activated sludge reactor showed high COD removal efficiencies. Kinetic constants of the aerobic processes were also compared at different operational conditions. The report also includes the following findings: assays of anaerobic digestion of wastewaters from the washing of olives, of olive oil and the two together using fluidised-beds and hybrid reactors; the kinetics, performance, stability, purification efficiencies and methane yield coefficients; other purifying methods for TPOME treatment including oxidation (with different chemical oxidants) and physico-chemical treatments (using different coagulants and flocculants); the anaerobic digestibility of TPOP using different influent substrate concentrations; kinetic studies of anaerobic digestion of TPOP and mass balances to predict the behaviour of the reactor and simplified kinetic models for studying the hydrolysis, acidogenic and methanogenic steps of one and two-stage anaerobic digestion of TPOP. Finally, other methods for treatment and use of TPOP were mentioned, including composting, production of alcohols, mannitol, and other added - value compounds such as monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, arabinose and glucose. Furfural and activated carbons were also produced from TPOP and included in the report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dynamic approach has been proposed for the ultrasound-assisted extraction of twenty phenolic compounds from alperujo, a semisolid waste from the olive oil industry, that is a representative example of samples with a complex matrix. Multivariate methodology was used to carry out a detailed optimisation study of both the separation–determination and extraction steps in terms of resolution-analysis time and extraction efficiency, respectively. Consequently, the proposed method was able to extract the target analytes in 13 min; then, after dilution and centrifugation, the extract was injected into the capillary electrophoresis–diode array detection system for individual separation determination in 11 min. No cleanup of the extract was required. This method is less time-consuming, more selective and provides a larger information level than the Folin–Ciocalteau spectrophotometric method. Alperujo was demonstrated to be a powerful source of phenolic compounds, particularly as compared with olive oil—8680 versus 50–1200 μg/g. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction of the two-phase centrifugation system for olive oil extraction during the early nineties in Spain has led to the generation of approximately four million tons per year of a solid olive-mill by-product called “alperujo” (AL). Agrochemical characterisation showed that AL has a high moisture content, slightly acidic pH values and a very high content of organic matter, mainly composed by lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose. It also has a considerable proportion of fats, proteins, water-soluble carbohydrates and a small but active fraction of hydrosoluble phenolic substances. Amongst plant nutrients, AL is rich in potassium, less so in (mainly organic) nitrogen and poor in phosphorus and micronutrients. Some of those properties are not compatible with agricultural requirements, for which reason composting may be considered a suitable alternative for its disposal. AL needs to be characterised before composting, and so an attempt was made to correlate the easily determined ash content with other parameters; the regression models thus obtained are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The SFEE technology was used to micronize the food-approved-biopolymer Eudraguard® protect. After setting the ratio of emulsion phases to 20:80 ethyl acetate:water, higher surfactant (0.1–10.0%) and lower polymer (1–10%) concentrations reduced the size of the particles. By halving the stirring speed to 1250 rpm during the homogenization of the emulsion, larger particles were formed. All these manipulations allowed the creation of particles ranging from 10 nm to 200 nm. A higher viscosity of the organic phase, achieved with 2% vitamin E, increased the particle size to 300 nm. Afterwards, SFEE was used to encapsulate hydroxytyrosol-rich olive oil (HT-oil), obtained from alperujo, in Eudraguard® protect for its preservation. Spherical non-aggregate particles were formed with an average of 230 nm. High degrees of encapsulation were possible (up to 99%) resulting in loadings of HT-oil in the obtained particles of 39% with 0.7 mg HT per g of particle. • The micronization of the biopolymer Eudraguard® protect was reported for the first time. • Micronized Eudraguard® protect particles ranged from 10 nm to 200 nm. • Eudraguard® protect was used to encapsulate hydroxytyrosol-rich olive oil from alperujo. • Particles with diverse sizes were obtained by tuning the emulsion and operating variables. • Spherical non-aggregate particles with high encapsulation degree were produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using SimaPro software has been carried out concerning the manufacture of artificial lightweight aggregates (LWAs). The study aims to evaluate the changes in the environmental impact when an additive of residual origin, specifically olive pomace (OP), is added following the principles of the Circular Economy. This residue (commonly known as alperujo) was used as a substitute for clay in 1.25, 2.5 and 5 wt%. The environmental impact related to the use of olive pomace in the mixture was estimated using the CML 2000 methodology, yielding improvements of 3.8%, 7.7% and 15.3% for 1.25, 2.5 and 5 wt% OP added, respectively. Optimum addition results are in the range of 1.25 and 2.5 wt% OP. In this way, the reduction of emissions associated with LWA manufacture would be favored without negatively affecting the technological properties of the resulting material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current environmental problems that threaten our society can only be mitigated with a radical change in the paradigm of production and consumption. Recycling waste is a key element in this. This work has focused on the valorization of a widely spread agricultural waste: the so-called 'alperujo' (olive pomace). For the first time, olive pomace (OP) has been used as a component in the manufacture of lightweight aggregates (LWAs). Mixtures with 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 wt% OP have been prepared from three different clays. The research results show that the addition of OP in low proportions (mainly 2.5%) is more positive to achieve aggregate bloating, pore formation and a lighter structure. The high calorific value of OP also helps to reduce the firing temperature significantly, which would result in energy savings. In the same way, bloating would be favored with the increase of the time and the temperature, especially with this last one. The materials obtained have excellent properties. In addition, the study of leachate in the most expanded aggregate shows that the concentration of heavy metals is very low, representing no danger to the environment. According to these findings, the recycling of olive pomace can be an excellent alternative in the manufacture of LWAs. • Olive pomace (OP) has been recycled to produce lightweight aggregates (LWAs). • The high calorific value of OP helps to reduce the firing temperature significantly. • LWA porosity and lightness are improved with low percentages of OP (1.25–2.5%). • Bloating is favored by the increase of the firing time and temperature. • The LWAs obtained have excellent properties to find a place in the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• BYS's behaviour was assayed under different irrigation and tillage influenced by OW. • Soil pH modification after OW addition contributed to contrary BYS' sorption in both years. • DHA accelerated BYS dissipation under anaerobic but not under aerobic conditions. • Non-flooding irrigation with tillage increased BYS leaching but OW may reduce it. Water and tillage management practices alone or in combination with organic amendments can alter the behaviour of pesticides. This study evaluates the sorption, persistence, and leaching of bispyribac-sodium (BYS) under anaerobic and aerobic rice-growing conditions with and without soil amendment by composted olive mill waste (OW). For this purpose, field experiments were conducted over three years. They involved six treatments: no-tillage and sprinkler irrigation (aerobic) without (NTA) and with OW application (NTAOW), tillage and aerobic without (TA) and with OW application (TAOW), and tillage and flooding without (TF) and with OW application (TFOW). In all three OW treatments, the amendment was applied in the first year. The K f values were significantly greater in TF than in [NTA and TA] for the first and third years of the experiment by factors of [1.5 and 2.3] and [1.6 and 1.2], respectively. While in the first year K f was 1.5 times greater in TF than TFOW, at the end of the experiment it was 1.6 times lower. In the non-amended treatments, the persistence of BYS was up to 1.9 times greater under anaerobic than under aerobic incubation conditions. Except for the NTA treatment in the third year, the persistence of BYS under aerobic incubation conditions (t 1/2 = 35.5–53.7 d) was enhanced when OW was applied to the soil (t 1/2 = 44.5–80.1 d). Under anaerobic incubation conditions, in the first year the BYS persistence was significantly reduced in NTA and TA when OW was added to the soil, but in TF it was enhanced. Conversely, in the third year the persistence of BYS was significantly increased in NTA and TA by OW addition, but decreased under TF management. BYS leaching was similar under the aerobic (TA and NTA) and anaerobic (TF) treatments in the first year, but was less under the TF treatment at the end of the experiment. Independently of the water and tillage management, the addition of OW significantly influenced BYS sorption and persistence, reducing the amount of the herbicide leached, although the magnitude of the effect depended on the time elapsed after its application to the soil. The use of OW could be considered as a strategy with which to reduce water contamination by BYS under aerobic and anaerobic rice-growing conditions, especially in the short term after application of this organic amendment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]