Integral valorization of two-phase olive mill waste: extraction of cellulose and lignin and their characterization

The increased awareness regarding the economic and environmental impact of olive oil production waste has motivated a notable interest in reusing byproducts within the industry. By mitigating ecological risks associated with olive mill waste, this research addresses concerns about waste disposal and contributes to sustainable practices within the olive oil industry. This study focuses on extracting and characterizing two key biopolymers, cellulose and lignin, obtained from locally sourced two-phase olive mill waste. The development of a straightforward yet efficient extraction protocol yielded promising results, with 11.72% cellulose and 12.5% lignin successfully isolated from the waste material. The extracted biopolymers underwent thorough characterization utilizing advanced analytical techniques, such as Fourier-transformed spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These methods provided comprehensive insights into the structural and thermal properties of cellulose and lignin, confirming the success of the extraction process. Furthermore, the isolated biopolymers hold significant potential for diverse applications, further expanding the possibilities for their utilization. This comprehensive approach emphasizes the importance of repurposing byproducts to enhance economic and environmental sustainability in olive oil production.