In the Olive3P project, innovative processes are developed to recover wastes and residues from olive oil production, including branches from olive harvest, as well as olive stone and liquid effluents from the olive milling process.
Solid residues are heated up in an oxygen-free environment and converted by carbonisation into biochar. Biochar is treated under high temperature with the addition of chemicals or steam to generate activated carbon. Then, olive mill effluents pass through a filter containing the activated carbon, which adsorbs (captures) soluble organic compounds, in particular polyphenols. Subsequently, filtrated olive mill effluents are mixed together with cheese whey and filled into a fermentation bioreactor to cultivate edible yeast, which can be applied as healthy animal feed for poultry and fish.
The activated carbon containing polyphenols is tested as a biocontrol agent to protect the roots of young olive trees from fungal diseases. Also, polyphenols are extracted from the adsorbent (activated carbon) by means of chemical processes, such as supercritical CO2 extraction, and subsequently applied as a conservative agent to increase storage stabilityof table olives.
Finally, the impacts of innovative processes on food quality, job creation, and environmental pollution are analyzed according to a Food Systems Approach.
*At the time of the proposal. Please consider this data as an accurate estimate; it may vary during the project’s lifespan.
Total costs include in kind contribution by grant holders and can therefore be higher than the total requested funding.