Industrial Valorization Potential of Olive Mill Wastewater and Olive Pomace Wastes in Çanakkale Province

The olive mill wastewater (OMW) and olive pomace, which are significant environmental wastes generated during the olive oil production process, are also rich in bioactive compounds. In this study, the physicochemical parameters and antioxidant activity capacities of OMW and olive pomace samples obtained from ten different olive oil production facilities in Çanakkale province were determined. The analyses revealed that the total phenolic compound content was particularly high in stations Z5>Z1>Z10>Z9 compared to other regions. Moreover, hydroxytyrosol content was found to be significantly high in stations Z1>Z9>Z8>Z10, while tyrosol levels were notably high in stations Z1>Z7. In the evaluation of antioxidant capacity, the highest DPPH and %ABTS cation radical scavenging activities were observed in station Z8. Additionally, the highest reducing power activity was detected in station Z1. The findings indicate a strong correlation between the high antioxidant capacity of olive processing waste and its rich bioactive compound content. In conclusion, olive by-products are considered a valuable source of bioactive compounds, with potential applications in various industrial fields such as food, agriculture, and healthcare.