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Ultrasound reactor - The solution for a continuous olive oil extraction process

Descripción del proyecto

Ondas ultrasónicas para extraer un aceite superior

La Unión Europea (UE) es el principal productor, consumidor y exportador de aceite de oliva. Se calcula que el 67 % del aceite de oliva mundial se produce en la UE, concretamente en los países mediterráneos. En este contexto, el equipo del proyecto financiado con fondos europeos OLIVE-SOUND ayudará a los productores de aceite a satisfacer la demanda de los consumidores de aceite de oliva virgen (AOV) de alta calidad. En concreto, introducirá un novedoso reactor ultrasónico para procesar la pasta de aceitunas, lo que sustituirá la malaxación, restablecerá la continuidad e impulsará el proceso de extracción del AOV. Además, utiliza menos agua. La aplicación de los ultrasonidos directamente en la pasta de aceitunas mejora la eficacia y la tasa de extracción, lo que se traduce en un rendimiento un 5 % mayor en un 70 % menos de tiempo de extracción.

Objetivo

Virgin olive oil (VOO) is a food commodity of high strategic economic importance for the EU. Leading the global VOO production, EU invests over €2.3B/year in policies that ocus on improving olive oil quality and encouraging oil producers to meet with consumers increasing demand for high-quality VOO. The OLIVE-SOUND concept was triggered by the need of the olive oil producers to face the main challenge in the current VOO extraction process; convert the long and costly batch step of malaxation of the olive paste into a continuous process. OLIVE-SOUND aims to introduce into the market in 36 months a novel Ultrasound reactor for the treatment of olive paste which will replace malaxation, restore continuity and boost the VOO extraction process. The application of ultrasounds directly to the olive paste improves both extraction efficiency and extraction rate resulting in an about 5% higher yield in 70% less extraction time. Due to the shorter extraction time and the release of antioxidant compounds promoted by US waves, the extracted oil is superior in terms of both sensorial and nutritional quality. OLIVE-SOUND will reduce water use as well as the total energy consumption, improving sustainability and lowering the environmental impact of the VOO extraction process. With a cost approximately times less than half of the currently alternative solutions, our sustainable US reactor can increase the profit margin of olive oil producer by 4 %. We have already invested €1.9M to bring our OLIVE SOUND to TRL 6. The total investment of OLIVE-SOUND is €4,4M and the cumulative profit of OLIVE-SOUND related outputs will be €15,3M. The return on investment of OLIVE SOUND as project will be 2.49 therefore the pay back will be only 2 years after its commercialization.

Régimen de financiación

IA - Innovation action

Coordinador

PIERALISI MAIP SPA
Aportación neta de la UEn
€ 607 425,00
Dirección
VIA DON A. BATTISTONI 1
60035 JESI AN
Italia

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Tipo de actividad
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Enlaces
Coste total
€ 867 750,00

Participantes (4)