Valorization Techniques for Bioactive Compounds from Olive By-Products
Summary
Olive oil production generates substantial quantities of by-products, notably olive pomace, pâté and stones, which contain valuable bioactive compounds such as phenolics, flavonoids and triterpenes. Valorization techniques seek to recover these compounds for use in food, nutraceutical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications while reducing environmental impact. Conventional solvent extraction is increasingly being replaced by green approaches, including pressurised liquid extraction, microwave-assisted and ultrasound-assisted extraction, as well as the use of natural deep eutectic solvents. Integrated biorefinery cascades combine sequential extraction, fractionation and downstream processing to maximise yield and diversify product streams. Encapsulation and nanoemulsion technologies are applied to protect labile compounds and enable incorporation into complex formulations. Overall, these strategies contribute to circular economy goals by converting waste into high-value ingredients with demonstrable antioxidant, antimicrobial and health-promoting properties.
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Valorization Techniques for Bioactive Compounds from Olive By-Products publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in valorization techniques for bioactive compounds from olive by-products across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Olive pomace: Residual solid matrix comprising skins, pulp and stones remaining after olive oil extraction.
Phenolic compounds: A diverse group of secondary metabolites characterised by one or more hydroxylated aromatic rings, renowned for antioxidant activity.
Microwave-assisted extraction: Technique utilising microwave radiation to heat solvent–matrix systems rapidly, improving mass transfer and reducing extraction time.
Natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES): Green solvent formed by mixing naturally occurring hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors, offering tunable polarity and biocompatibility.
Pressurised liquid extraction: Method employing elevated temperature and pressure to enhance solvent penetration and solubilisation of target compounds.
Biorefinery cascade: Sequential processing approach where biomass undergoes multiple valorisation steps to produce an array of high-value products and minimise waste.
References
- Optimization of Conditions for Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Polyphenols from Olive Pomace of Žutica Variety: Waste Valorization Approach. Antioxidants (2023).
- Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent as Extraction Media for the Main Phenolic Compounds from Olive Oil Processing Wastes. Antioxidants (2020).
- Towards the Integral Valorization of Olive Pomace‐Derived Biomasses through Biorefinery Strategies. ChemBioEng Reviews (2024).
- Obtaining an Extract Rich in Phenolic Compounds from Olive Pomace by Pressurized Liquid Extraction. Molecules (2019).
- Novel Processes for the Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Olive Pomace and Their Protection by Encapsulation. Molecules (2021).
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