Olive-derived biomasses contain bioactive compounds with health promoting effects as well as antioxidant and sweet-tasting properties. However, their sequential extraction has not been attained. In the present study, firstly antioxidants and mannitol were extracted from exhausted olive pomace (EOP) by an eco-friendly method, ultrasound-assisted water extraction (UAWE). The amplitude (20-80%), extraction time (2-18 min) and solid loading (2-15%, w/v) were evaluated according to a Box-Behnken experimental design. Using the response surface methodology, the optimal conditions for extraction were obtained: 80% amplitude, 11.5% solid loading and 16 min. It enabled the multi-response optimization of the total phenolic content (TPC) (40.04 mg/g EOP), hydroxytyrosol content (6.42 mg/g EOP), mannitol content (50.92 mg/g EOP) and antioxidant activity (ferric reducing power or FRAP, 50.95 mg/g EOP; ABTS, 100.64 mg/g EOP). Moreover, the phenolic profile of the extracts was determined by liquid chromatography-UV and mass spectrometry, identifying hydroxytyrosol as the main phenolic compound and other minor derivatives could be characterized. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the morphological changes produced in the cellular structure of EOP after UAWE. In addition, the chemical composition of the extracted EOP solid was characterized for further valorization. Then, a second extraction step was performed in order to extract bioactive triterpenes from the latter solid. The triterpenes content in the extract was determined and the effect of the previous UAWE step on the triterpenes extraction was evaluated. In this case, the use of ultrasound enhanced the extraction of maslinic acid and oleanolic acid from pelletized EOP with no milling requirement. Overall, UAWE can be applied to obtain antioxidant compounds and mannitol as first extraction step from pelletized EOP while supporting the subsequent recovery of triterpenic acids.
Keywords: exhausted olive pomace; green extraction; hydroxytyrosol; mannitol; maslinic acid; ultrasound-assisted water extraction.