From Olive Oil Production to By-Products: Emergent Technologies to Extract Bioactive Compounds

Olive oil production and consumption has been increasing due to its organoleptic properties and health benefits. Consequently, waste generation also raised leading to environmental concerns. Nevertheless, this waste contains high amounts of bioactive compounds with potential to be extracted, recovered, and applied, following circular economy policies. New extractive technologies, especially green ones, are important for the success of this venture. This review focuses on the olive oil production chain, from the tree to olive oil and the respective waste/by-products, presenting and discussing emergent and green methodologies to recover and give new life to bioactive compounds that are usually discarded. Oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and other related compounds are molecules with important biological activities. They can be recovered in high concentrations through such technologies and used successfully in different industries to meet the sustainability and circular economy principles of the chain.