Fungal Strain as Biological Tool to Remove Genotoxicity Effect of Phenolic Compounds from Olive Mill Wastewater

This study aims to select fungi isolates reduce olive mill wastewater (OMWW) chemical oxygen demand (COD) and phenolic compounds (PC), as well their genotoxicity effect. Treatment with mold, isolated by an innovative technique using compound-selective media, showed a reduction rate of about 4% for COD 2% PC during one month incubation without optimization the treatment conditions. Whereas this percentage reached 98% 96% PC, respectively, after only 12 days treatment, when C:N ratio was adjusted 30 adding urea nitrogen source at 150 rpm agitation speed. Genetic sequence homology most efficient mold isolate 100% similarity Penicillium chrysogenum. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis extracts untreated OMWW presence five compounds—hydroxytyrosol 1.22 g.L?1, tyrosol 0.05 caffeic acid 0.16 p-coumaric g.L?1 oleuropein 0.04 g.L?1—that were eliminated degradation process 88.82%. Genotoxicity, assessed Vicia-faba root cell, significant decrease in micronucleus frequency fungal treatment. These results confirm positive role eliminate ability improve agronomic potential.