Use of Natural Microtalcs during the Virgin Olive Oil Production Process to Increase Its Content in Antioxidant Compounds

During the olive oil production process, certain varieties, such as ‘Hojiblanca’ and ‘Picual’, create pastes from which it is difficult to separate oil, resulting in low extraction yields. To improve extraction, one alternative addition of natural microtalcs (NMT). In present study, a NMT great purity (CaCO3 concentration less than 6 wt.%) small average particle size (ϕ ≤ 2.1 µm) was added malaxation stage on an industrial scale at two mills. them using olives, performance high-purity compared with that traditional NMT, while other, effect its dosage quality ‘Picual’ oils assessed. The evaluated terms yield, extractability index, parameters oxidative stability oils. not only increased yields but also improved virgin oils, especially relation antioxidant compounds (tocopherols phenolic compounds). Increases 10.4% 21.5% tocopherols were found, thus enhancing