Valorization of residues generated in the production of olive oil through clean technologies

Abstract

The aim of this PhD Thesis is the valorization of olive mill wastes in terms of olive pomace oil extraction and bioactive compounds recovery using clean and emerging technologies, with subsequent encapsulation of the recovered biocompounds in single and double nanoemulsions for their future use in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. The solid residues were treated using conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods for the recovery of olive pomace oil and phenolic compounds. Furthermore, solid-liquid adsorption experiments were performed on the phenolic extracts for their concentration and purification, and also to reach the selective isolation of the desired bioactive compounds. The oil mill wastewater was processed using membrane technologies to achieve the separation of phenolic compounds. Finally, phenolic extracts were encapsulated in single and double nanoemulsions in order to improve the stability and bioavailability of the encapsulated phenolic compounds.