Identification & Background 

Project title: OliveBIOextract – Sustainable use of olive pomace in an integrated value chain using innovative processes.

Project code: NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-049865

Main objective: Strengthening research, technological development and innovation

Beneficiary entity(s):
Joaquim da Silva, Herdeiros (project leader)
More – Laboratório Colaborativo Montanhas de Investigação
Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB)
Trás-os-Montes PRIME
Universidade do Minho (UM)
COLEP, Portugal S

Approval date: 09-12-2020
Start date: 01-02-2021
Completion date: 30-06-2023

Total eligible investment: 832.023,88€
Financial support from the EU:FEDER – 532.722,53€

  • Optimization of the extraction methodology, in order to avoid the high costs associated with drying olive pomace and allow its use directly from the mill;
  • Development of sustainable and industrially scalable (pilot) methodologies for the recovery of polyphenols and related metabolites;
  • Optimization of phenolic compound stabilization methodologies;
  • Conversion of a bio-waste with high environmental toxicity into bioactive ingredients of high economic value;
  • Reduction of the phytotoxicity of olive pomace through the extraction process, which will open new ways of exploitation for this bio-residue.
  • A1 – Optimization of extraction and refining methodologies for the recovery of bioactive molecules present in olive pomace.
  • A2 – Evaluation of the safety, toxicity and cosmeceutical properties of individual extracts and/or compounds.
  • A3 – Development of a multifunctional cosmeceutical product – demonstrative.
  • A4 – Construction of a pilot plant with optimized extraction methodologies, low environmental impact and integrating specific pretreatment and refining steps of bioactive compounds.
  • A5 – Life cycle assessment (LCA) of the different stages of the olive pomace valorization process.
  • A6 – Project management and dissemination.

MORE CoLAB leads Activity 5, being responsible for the Life Cycle Assessment and environmental impact of the different stages of the olive pomace valorization process, participating in the optimization tasks of the methodologies of extraction and recovery of bioactive molecules (Activity 1), evaluation of toxicity and properties of the extracts obtained (Activity 2), development of pilot equipment and scale-up (Activity 4).

  • Obtain an extract with multifunctional bioactive properties from olive pomace.
  • Use the extracts as ingredients for cosmeceutical development, nutraceutical formulations and other bio-based applications.
  • Develop a pilot equipment with optimized extraction methodologies that will bring a competitive advantage in improving financial returns (high quality extracts that can be marketed for other bio-based industrial applications) and thus lower the production cost.