High-Yield Production of a Rich-in-Hydroxytyrosol Extract from Olive () Leaves.

The aim of the present study was to explore the high-yield production of hydroxytyrosol, a phenolic compound with very high antioxidant capacity. leaves were chosen as feedstock as they contain significant amounts of oleuropein, which can be hydrolyzed to hydroxytyrosol. The chosen techniques are widely used in the industry and can be easily scaled up.

Isolation of organic compounds with high added values from agro-industrial solid wastes.

Phenols are organic compounds with high antioxidant activity. Occurring mainly in plants, where they act as pigments or even as part of defense mechanisms against insects and herbivores. Given the positive impact on on human health, their isolation and purification from agricultural products is of particular interest for the production of nutritional, pharmaceutical and cosmetics supplements.

Purification of olive mill wastewater phenols through membrane filtration and resin adsorption/desorption.

Olive tree cultivation has a long history in the Mediterranean countries, and even today consists an important cultural, economic, and environmental aspect of the area. The production of olive oil through 3-phase extraction systems, leads to the co-production of large quantities of olive mill wastewater (OMW), with toxic compounds that inhibit its biodegradation. Membrane filtration has been used for the exploitation of this byproduct, through the isolation of valuable phenolic compounds.

Membrane filtration of agro-industrial wastewaters and isolation of organic compounds with high added values.

The aim of the current study was the exploitation of agro-industrial wastes or by-products such as olive mill wastewater (OMW) and defective wines. A cost-effective system for their maximum exploitation is suggested, using a combined process of membrane filtration and other physicochemical processes. Wastewaters are first treated in a membrane system (prefiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis) where pure water and other organic fractions (by-products) are obtained.