EN-X-OLIVE

Supporting SME driven olive industry to comply with EU directives

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Technical scenario: Olive production is a significant economic sector in southern Member States, especially in Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal. However, the extraction process involved in olive oil production generates non−biodegradable phytotoxic waste, and is therefore a significant source of pollution. Despite the introduction in the 90s of improved separation systems such as 2-phase centrifugation system, that reduce both water use and the quantities of liquid residues produced, the problems of waste toxicity, high energy consumption and the disposal of final residues remain . Olive oil production gives a final waste consisting in a solid and very humid by-product called ‘‘alperujo’’ (AL) or “Olive wet cake”. The problem of AL disposal has not been fully resolved and research into new technological procedures that permit its profitable use is needed. In addition, these wastes also contain valuable resources such as phenolic compounds, (approximately 53% in olive oil mill waste waters), characterised by different biological activity properties which could be of interest in industry (i.e. their strong antioxidant activity). Current extraction of these compounds is not available from olive oil waste water, since technology is not fully developed and optimised to get large scale prototyping such as Pilot plant stage. Proposed solution: We propose a method focused on both treatment of olive waste waters with by anaerobic digestion transforming biomass into biogas, basically Methane, and extraction from liquid fraction of valuable products, such as polyphenols. Synergy between these technologies will allow overcome technical barriers such as polyphenol inactivation of the digestion process, making more efficient the process and letting a higher purity of the waste water product.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

European researchers came together under the EN-X-OLIVE project to make profit from waste from olive oil production. Their approach centred on advancing research into new technological procedures for this important economic sector of Mediterranean basin countries.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Olive oil production involves an extraction process accompanied by problems related to high energy consumption, disposal of final residues, and toxic waste. The final waste by-product is called alperujo (AL), so-called wet olive cake.

Funded by the EU, the 'Supporting SME driven olive industry to comply with EU directives' (EN-X-OLIVE) project aimed to address the unresolved problem of AL disposal. To this end, project partners proposed an innovative waste treatment solution focused on anaerobic digestion, whereby biomass is transformed into biogas.

Extensive laboratory and pilot plant tests on wastes supported the design and validation of a full featured prototype of an industrial plant. This integrated plant includes all the different modules of the EN-X-OLIVE process. Involving the extraction of polyphenols and fertilisers, as well as anaerobic digestion, biogas valorisation and the reuse of water, the process can be adapted and implemented in Greece, Spain and Italy. Each country uses a different olive oil production process, the phases of which produce either liquid or solid waste.

The successfully proven project concept, in compliance with EU restrictions related to the above procedures, can also be used to treat other source of wastes (e.g. dairy or manure wastes) and to manage other organic residues. Beyond the obvious advantage of reducing pollution and the volume of waste, there are also good prospects for subsequent commercialisation of the EN-X-OLIVE concept and modular product.