Iron removal and reuse from Fenton-like pretreated olive mill wastewater with novel strong-acid cation exchange resin fixed-bed column

•Modeling of fixed-bed column data for iron removal from industrial wastewater.•Effects of pH and initial concentration on iron removal were investigated.•The experimental iron uptake data were accurately described by Thomas model.•Up to 100% recovery efficiencies were maintained even after 10 complete cycles.•At the end, an effluent with irrigation reuse quality compliance was obtained. The performance of a fixed-bed cation exchange process was examined for final purification of the iron load derived from catalyst usage in the secondary treatment of olive mill wastewater, which led to unacceptable iron levels. Results showed an increase in the pH value up to 4 enhanced the iron ion exchange (IE) efficiency, which decreased upon higher pH. Furthermore, Thomas model provided utmost accurate dynamic behavior modeling for all inlet concentrations studied (20, 50 and 100mgL−1). Additionally, up to 100% recovery efficiencies were maintained even after 10 complete cycles. Finally, an effluent with quality for irrigation reuse was obtained.