Cleaner production implementation through process modifications for selected SMEs in Turkish olive oil production

Turkey as a Mediterranean country has suitable conditions for olive oil production. However, by-products of olive oil production (pomace and vegetation water) require specific management with the goal of pollution prevention. This paper explores the applicability of Cleaner Production (CP) methodology for fifteen crude olive oil extraction Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), one olive oil refining plant and one pomace oil extraction plant operating on the Aegean Sea coast of Turkey. It has been deducted that; if the recommended CP options comprising water, energy saving issues, and pomace management options regarding energy production and raw material recovery via thermal conversion processes will be implemented, the need for end-of-pipe treatment (EOP) facilities will decline and power generation from pomace will be environmentally, technically and economically feasible.