UIPEVO – Ultrasonic Olive Oil Extractor for Higher Yields
The Hielscher UIPEVO is an ultrasonic extraction system for extra virgin olive oil that improves malaxation and extraction. The use of ultrasound for olive oil extraction increases yield and quality producing superior extra virgin olive oil. Due to the gentle processing, all nutrients of the extra virgin olive oil are fully preserved.
Ultrasonic Extractor and Malaxation of Olive Paste
Ultrasonic extraction is well known to increase yield, improve extract quality and to reduce extraction time – resulting in a more economical process. For olive oil, ultrasonic extraction has various advantages over conventional oil pressing: The ultrasonic treatment is a mild, non-thermal process. The ultrasonic malaxation and extraction is achieved by cavitation, a purely mechanical forces.
By tuning the intensity of the ultrasonic malaxation and extraction can be adapted to the cultivar, olive fruits, and the desired flavour profile of the extra virgin olive oil. This allows e.g. to control the polyphenol content of the olive oil, which is responsible for the pungency and the shelf-life. Olive oil with high polyphenol content has a longer shelf life, but also a more intense flavour profile.
- higher oil yields
- extra virgin oil quality
- more polyphenols
- non-thermal, mild extraction
- shorter processing time
- purely mechanical process
- reduced consumption of water
- energy-saving
- environmental-friendly
Ultrasonic processor UIP4000hdT (4kW) for extra virgin olive oil malaxation.
Scheme of olive oil extraction line: A. cleaning section; B. crusher; C. cavity pump; D. US machine; E. 6-malaxer section; F. horizontal centrifuge; G. vertical centrifuges.
(author and copyright: ©M. Servili et al. 2019; no violation of copyright is intended.)
How is Extra Virgin Olive Oil Produced?
Extra virgin olive oil is extracted from the fruits of the olive tree. The process typically includes the following steps:
- Harvesting: Olives are picked by hand or using mechanical equipment.
- Washing: The olives are washed to remove dirt and debris.
- Grinding: The olives are ground into a paste using large millstones or a hammer mill.
- Malaxation: The paste is mixed for 20-30 minutes to allow the oil droplets to form larger droplets, which will make it easier to extract the oil. Ultrasonic extractors – consisting of an ultrasonic probe and a flow cell reactor – are implemented often before or behind the malaxer in order to increase the extra virgin olive oil yield significantly. Ultrasound waves and acoustic cavitation release the oil from the olive fruit cells and contribute to an optimum yield. As a non-thermal, purely mechanical treatment, ultrasonic olive oil extraction is used to produce extra virgin olive oil with superior polyphenol content and highest quality.
- Ultrasonic malaxation and extraction: Ultrasonication for is an optional processing step in the olive oil extraction. Integrating an ultrasonic flow into the olive oil processing line allows to produce more extra virgin olive oil. As a purely mechanical treatment, ultrasound breaks the cells in the olive pulp open and promotes the complete release of oil from the olive flesh.
- Separation: The mixture is then placed in a centrifuge, which separates the oil from the water and solids.
- Filtration: The oil is then filtered to remove any remaining impurities.
- Bottling: The oil is then bottled and stored in a cool, dark place to preserve its quality.
UIPEVO – Ultrasonic System for Extra Virgin Olive Oil Extraction
The Hielscher UIPEVO is an industrial-grade ultrasonic extractor for the processing of extra virgin olive oil. The system is designed to meet the requirements of olive paste processing optimally. The advantages are a special designed sonotrode (ultrasound horn) which couples the ultrasonic waves into the olive paste. The precise control over all process parameters allows to fine-tune the process conditions and offers thereby the possibility to adapt the parameters to the olive paste and the targeted final product. This means that cultivars with mild flavour profile can be sonicated at higher intensity, whilst olives with a high polyphenol content might profit from a mild ultrasonic treatment to avoid a bitter taste. At the same time, the olive oil yield is maximized since the ultrasonic malaxation and extraction breaks the cell walls and releases the entrapped lipids.
- higher yield
- high quality
- non-thermal
- rapid extraction
- adaptable to olive cultivars
- high-performance ultrasound
- easy and precise adjustment
- temperature control
- robust
- easy-to-clean
- 24/7 operation
The UIPEVO is equipped with a high-power 4kW ultrasonic processor, a special malaxation sonotrode and flow cell. Depending on the process requirements and volume, the system can be easily clustered. The system can be easily installed by connecting hoses and a pump, which feeds the olive paste.
The digital control, automatic data recording (as CVS file on the integrated SD card), pre-programming, automatic frequency tuning and browser remote control make the UIPEVO a reliable and user-friendly system. The ultrasonic olive oil extrator UIPEVO can be easily cleaned by flushing with water or cleaning fluid under sonication – using the system as powerful ultrasonic cleaner (CIP/SIP).
The robustness of Hielscher’s ultrasonic equipment allows for 24/7 operation at heavy duty and in demanding environments.
Design, Manufacturing and Consulting – Quality Made in Germany
Hielscher ultrasonicators are well-known for their highest quality and design standards. Robustness and easy operation allow the smooth integration of our ultrasonicators into industrial facilities. Rough conditions and demanding environments are easily handled by Hielscher ultrasonicators.
Hielscher Ultrasonics is an ISO certified company and put special emphasis on high-performance ultrasonicators featuring state-of-the-art technology and user-friendliness. Of course, Hielscher ultrasonicators are CE compliant and meet the requirements of UL, CSA and RoHs.
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Facts Worth Knowing
Olives and Olive Oil
Olives are the fruit crop of olive trees of the species Olea europaea, family Oleaceae. Olive oil is the liquid fat which is released from ripe olives by pressing the whole fruit. The composition and quality of olive oil is influenced by the cultivar, soil, altitude, harvest time and extraction process. The main component of olive oil is oleic acid (up to 83%), whilst other fatty acids such as linoleic acid (up to 21%) and palmitic acid (up to 20%) are present in smaller proportions.
Olive Oil Qualities
The most important quality criterion is its fatty acid composition, which is used to test quality and authenticity of the olive oil. The free oleic acid content is measured in weight percentage.
The texture and mouth feel of olive oil is determined by fatty acid composition. The fatty acids, sterols, methyl-sterols, and some alcohols are nonvolatile compounds which are not flavour-contributing compounds, but are very important for the rheology, mouth feel, and stability of the oil.
The actual flavour of the olive oil is mostly influenced by the volatile aromatic compounds such as aldehydes, ketones, esters, and organic acids.
Polyphenols (e.g. esters of tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, oleocanthal and oleuropein), tocopherols, glucosides, aldehydes, ketones, esters, organic acids, aromatic hydrocarbons, and natural pigments like chlorophyll and the carotenoids are other compounds found in olive oil. Polyphenols, glucosides, and tocopherols are known for their antioxidative properties and are therefore nutritionally valued. Polyphenols and glucosides are responsible for the bitter, pungent flavour note of olive oil. Chlorophyll gives the the oil its green colour.
Virgin Olive Oils
If an oil is claimed as virgin, the oil was produced by mechanical extraction only (without any chemical treatment). This quality-related term “virgin” is differentiated into all Extra virgin, Virgin, Ordinary virgin and Lampante virgin olive oils.
Olive Oil Quality Standards
The International Olive Council has set the following quality standards for olive oil:
Extra virgin olive oil is the highest grade of virgin oil derived by cold mechanical extraction without use of solvents or refining methods. It contains no more than 0.8% free acidity, and has superior taste with some fruitiness and no defined sensory defects.
Virgin olive oil is a lesser grade of virgin oil, with free acidity of up to 1.5%, a good taste, but may show some sensory defects.
Refined olive oil is a type of virgin oil, which has been treated with charcoal, other chemical and/or physical filters. However, the glyceridic structure is not altered by this treatments. Its free acidity is not higher than 0.3% and its other characteristics correspond to those fixed for this category in this standard. It is obtained by refining virgin oils to eliminate high acidity or organoleptic defects.
Olive pomace oil is produced by refining pomace olive oil, which is often blended with some virgin oil to improve its flavour. Due to its high smoke point it is used as cooking oil.
Olive Cultivars
The cultivar of Olea europaea L. is an important olive fruit species, which has manifold cultivars that differ in oil quality and flavour. The list below shows the most frequently used cultivars and their characteristics.
- Arbequina: Recognized for its aromatic ripe fruitiness, low bitterness, pungency, and stability
- Aglandau: Highly fruity, bitter, pungent, and stable
- Barnea: Fruity with mild bitterness, pungency, and stability
- Bosana: Highly fruity, herbaceous, medium pungency, bitterness, and stability
- Chemlali: Strongly aromatic fruitiness with notable varietal character
- Coratina: Strongly green herbaceous, bitter, pungent, and stable
- Cornicabra: Very fruity and aromatic with medium bitterness, pungency, and stability
- Empeltre: Mildly fruity with low bitterness, pungency, and stability
- Frantoio: Very fruity, aromatic, and herbaceous; medium bitterness and stability; strongly pungent
- Hojiblanca: Fruity, aromatic, mildly pungent, low bitterness and stability
- Koroneiki: Strongly fruity, herbaceous, and very stable; mild bitterness and pungency
- Lechin de Sevilla: Very fruity, mildly bitter, pungent, and stable
- Leccino: Medium fruitiness, and stability; low bitterness and pungency
- Manzanillo: Fruity, aromatic and herbaceous; medium bitterness and stability; strongly pungent
- Moraiolo: Very strongly fruity, herbaceous, and stable; medium bitterness and pungency
- Picudo: Very aromatic ripe fruitiness; medium pungency and stability; mildly bitter
- Picual: Controversial variety that when harvested early produces a nicely aromatic fruity oil that has medium bitterness and very high stability. Poor reputation is due to poor fruit handling.
- Picholine: Very fruity and aromatic; medium fruitiness, bitterness, and pungency
- Picholine Marocaine: Very fruity and aromatic; medium fruitiness, bitterness, and pungency
- Taggiasca: Mildly fruity; low bitterness, pungency, and stability
- Verdial de Huevar: Mildly fruity, bitter, and pungent; very green in color
(cf. Vossen 1998)
UIP4000hdT (4kW) industrial ultrasonic processor for olive oil extraction
Ultrasonically extracted extra virgin olive oil leaving the ultrasound flow cell.
Literature/References
- FactSheet Ultrasonic Extraction of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Antonia Tamborrino, Agnese Taticchi, Roberto Romaniello, Claudio Perone, Sonia Esposto, Alessandro Leone, Maurizio Servili (2021): Assessment of the olive oil extraction plant layout implementing a high-power ultrasound machine. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, Volume 73, 2021.
- Agnese Taticchi, Roberto Selvaggini, Sonia Esposto, Beatrice Sordini, Gianluca Veneziani, Maurizio Servili (2019): Physicochemical characterization of virgin olive oil obtained using an T ultrasound-assisted extraction at an industrial scale: Influence of olive maturity index and malaxation time. Food Chemistry Volume 289, 15 August 2019, Pages 7-15.
- Servili M; Veneziani G.; Taticchi A.; Romaniello R.; Tamborrino A.; Leone A.(2019): Low-frequency, high-power ultrasound treatment at different pressures for olive paste: Effects on olive oil yield and quality. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry 59, 2019.
- Manganiello R., Pagano M., Nucciarelli D., Ciccoritti R., Tomasone R., Di Serio M.G., Giansante L., Del Re P., Servili M., Veneziani G. (2021): Effects of Ultrasound Technology on the Qualitative Properties of Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Foods. 2021 Nov 22;10(11):2884.
- Achat, S.; Rakotomanomana, N.; Tomao, V.; Madani, K.; Chibane, M.; Chemat, F.; Dangles, O. (2013): Enrichment of Olive Oil in Oleuropein by Ultrasound-Assisted Maceration and Antioxidant Activity. Abstract in Nutr & Metabol 2013.
- Bejaoui, M.A.; Beltran, G.; Aguilera, M.P.; Jimenez, A.; (2016): Continuous conditioning of olive paste by high power ultrasounds: Response surface methodology to predict temperature and its effect on oil yield and virgin olive oil (VOO) characteristics. LWT – Food Science and Technology 69, 2016. 175-184.
- Vossen, Paul (1998): Variety and Maturity the Two Largest Influences on Olive Oil Quality. Project Report. University of California, Davis, 1998.
UIPEVO – Ultrasonic Industrial Processor for the Extraction of Extra Virgin Olive Oil