Aceites Canoliva: Pioneering Olive Oil Excellence with OptiCept’s Advanced PEF Solutions
Learn how olive oil producer Aceites Canoliva benefits from OptiCepts Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) technology.
PEF enables olive oil producers to extract more oil from each processed olive. How you might ask? In this post, we’ll take a closer look at PEF in olive oil extraction and how pulsed electric field technology impacts the EVOO extraction process.
Every cell in this world has some conductivity – meaning, the ability to transfer electricity. You have it, your dog has it and olives has it.
Conductivity creates the conditions for the PEF technologies‘ efficiency.
PEF creates Electroporation (Membrane Permeabilization), the high-voltage electrical pulses create pores or openings in the cell membrane. These pores are typically nanoscale and form in response to the electric field. The pores allow the cell content to pass through the membrane more easily.
After harvesting olives the next step is getting the oil out of the olives, preferably, as efficiently as possible.
The structure of an olive can vary slightly depending on the olive variety and its ripeness. But true for all olives is that the olive oil is primarily located in the thin layer of tissue surrounding the pit or stone of the olive, known as the oil sac.
This oil sac contains the majority of the oil in the olive fruit. When olives are crushed or pressed, the oil sac is ruptured, releasing the oil, which can then be separated from the other components of the olive, such as the flesh and pit.
Modern equipment, such as hydraulic presses and centrifugal extractors, are designed to maximize oil extraction efficiency. The crusher grinds, breaks, crushes, and mashes the olives into a paste.
However, no matter how modern a crusher is there will always be a certain amount of oil still hiding inside a cell. Olive oil extraction is a complex process, to say the least. This is why applying PEF in olive oil extraction is a game-changer.
The application of PEF treatment in olive oil extraction is preferably applied in the initial stage of the process, right after the crusher, before malaxation.
The disrupted olive cells, still containing a substantial amount of oil, are subjected to the pulses that create an electric field within the olive, and the electrical energy disrupts the cell membranes of the olive tissue, releasing more oil.
The disrupted cell membranes make it easier for the olive oil to flow out of the cells and be separated from the other components of the olive, such as water and solids.
Moreover, this also leads to several positive “side effects” – shorter processing time and better quality of the final product.
Several studies have been carried out in the past to confirm the effects of pulsed electric field treatment for olive oil production. During the 2022-2023 season, OptiCept Technologies has worked with the Spanish research institute IFAPA to analyze the effect of the CEPT technology. The results confirm the good effects of the treatment on olive oil extraction, which is now attracting a lot of attention in the Iberian Peninsula.
More and more prominent customers are discovering the benefits of the OptiCepts PEF system for olive oil. Read more about some of them:
How Acesur is Redefining Olive Oil Production with Revolutionary PEF Technology
Aceites Canoliva: Pioneering Olive Oil Excellence with OptiCept’s Advanced PEF Solutions
Increasing EVOO extraction, improving quality, and efficiency for Moulin D’Olivette
Increasing extraction of EVOO at Atlas Olive Oils
Optimizing olive oil extraction is crucial for several reasons. Looking at the bigger picture, climate change, and growing populations are motivating factors. Furthermore:
In summary, optimizing the process with PEF in olive oil extraction is essential for maximizing both the quantity and quality of the product, ensuring economic viability, reducing environmental impact, and meeting industry standards. It is a critical aspect of olive oil production that benefits producers, consumers, and the industry as a whole.
Curious to learn more about the available technology?
OptiCEPT is available in models tailored for production lines with capacities from 0,5 – 10 t/h. Download the product sheet to understand which model is suitable for your production, or contact us for a quote.
Learn how olive oil producer Aceites Canoliva benefits from OptiCepts Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) technology.
PEF enables olive oil producers to extract more oil from each processed olive. How you might ask? In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how pulsed electric field technology impacts the olive oil extraction process.
Learn how the award-winning olive mill Moulin D’Olivette in France leverage the use of oliveCEPT
OptiCept delivers innovative solutions for Food & Plant Industries to improve quality, performance & reduce waste.
Get the latest news from OptiCept Technologies straight to your inbox