Research Units
Process Engineering Unit

This unit works on the study of the physical, chemical and sensory composition of olive oils, as well as on the characterization, use and exploitation of by-products from olive grove, oil mills, extractors and refineries. To achieve this goal, olive stones and olive grove pruning are analysed to produce biofuels from these products derived from olive groves.

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

Sánchez S., Olivares I., Puentes J.G., Órpez R., La Rubia M.D., Pacheco R. and García Martín J.F.            

Processes. Volume 10, Issue 5, 2022                     

DOI: 10.3390/pr10050950

Reuse of pruning waste from subtropical fruit trees and urban gardens as a source of nutrients: Changes in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil               

Reyes-Martín M.P., Ortiz-Bernad I., Lallena A.M., San-Emeterio L.M., Martínez-Cartas M.L. and Ondoño E.F. 

Applied Sciences (Switzerland). Volume  12, Issue 1, 2022                         

DOI: 10.3390/app12010193

Corn stover conversion into bioethanol and xylitol through an integral bioprocess: Kinetic study and modelling        

Hodaifa G., Nieto L.M. and Kowalska M.             

Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Volume 131, 2022                          

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtice.2022.104202

Nematode biomass production from sewage sludge as a novel method for circular economy               

López-Viso C., Hodaifa G. and Muñoz M.J.        

Journal of Cleaner Production. Volume 330, 2022                          

DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129706

Thermal characterization and pyrolysis kinetics of six types of tropical timber from Central Africa     

Martínez-Cartas M.L.,  Sánchez S. and Cuevas M.          

Fuel. Volume 307, 2022               

DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2021.121824

Content Curation in E-Learning: A Case of Study with Spanish Engineering Students  

Aguilar-Peña J.D., Rus-Casas C., Eliche-Quesada D., Muñoz-Rodríguez F.J. and Dolores La Rubia, M.    

Applied Sciences (Switzerland). Volume 12, Issue 6, 2022                            

DOI: 10.3390/app12063188

Valorization of olive endocarp from olive oil and table olive processing as a low-cost bioadsorbent for the removal of furfural from aqueous solutions

Soledad Mateo, Alberto J. Moya, Gassan Hodaifa, Sebastián Sánchez, Manuel Cuevas

Journal of Water Process Engineering. Volume 44, December 2021, 102442

DOI:  10.1016/j.jwpe.2021.102442

Nanocellulose from Agricultural Wastes: Products and Applications: A Review

Soledad Mateo and Silvia Peinado and Francisca Morillas-Gutiérrez and M. Dolores La

Rubia and Alberto J. Moya

Processes. Volume 9, 1594 (2021)

Biochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass from date palm of Phoenix dactylifera L. into ethanol production

Yousra Antit, Mª Inmaculada Olivares, Moktar Hamdi, Sebastián Sánchez

Energies, 14 (7), 1887, 1-17 (2021)

DOI: 10.3390/en14071887

Ethanol production from olive stones through liquid hot water pre-treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Influence of enzyme loading, and pretreatment temperature and time

Manuel Cuevas, Juan Francisco García, Vicente Bravo, Sebastián Sánchez

Fermentation 2021, 7(1), page 25

DOI: 10.3390/fermentation7010025

Mineralization of bagged pruning waste in agrosystem on the subtropical coast of Andalusia (Spain)

Marino Pedro Reyes, Mª Lourdes Martínez, Irene Ortiz, Laila San Emetrio, Emilia Fernández

The Journal of Agricultural Science. Volume 158(8-9), pages 634-645. Age 2021

DOI: 10.1017/S0021859621000113

Reuse of pruning waste from subtropical fruit tres and urban gardens as a source of nutrients: changes in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil

Marino Pedro Reyes, Irene Ortiz, Antonio M. Laillena, Antonio M. Layla Márquez, Mª Lourdes Martínez, Emilia Fernández       

Applied Sciences. Volume 12(1), 193. 2021

DOI: 10.3390/app12010193

Study of catalysts’ influence on photocatalysis/photodegradation of olive oil mill wastewater. Determination of theoptimum working conditions

Hodaifa, G., García, C.A., Borja  

Catalysts, 10 (5), 554, 2020

DOI: 10.3390/catal10050554

Energetic valorisation of olive biomass: olive-tree pruning, olive stones and pomaces

Juan F. García; Manuel Cuevas; Chao-Hui Feng; Paloma Álvarez; Miguel Torres; Sebastián Sánchez

Processes, 8 511: 1-38. 2020

DOI: 10.3390/pr8050511

Upgrading almond-tree pruning as a biofuel via wet torrefaction

Aguado-Molina; Cuevas-Aranda, Manuel; L. Pérez-Villarejo; Martínez-Cartas, Mª Lourdes; Sánchez-Villasclaras, Sebastián

Renewable Energy, 145: 2091-2100 (2020)

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.07.142

Kinetic growth and biochemical composition variability of Chlorella pyrenoidosa in olive oil washing wastewater cultures enriched with urban wastewater

Maaitah, Murad; Hodaifa-Meri, Gassan; Malvis-Romero, A.; Sánchez-Villasclaras, Sebastián

Journal of Water Process Engineering, 35(101197): 1-10 (2020)

DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101197

Acid and enzymatic fractionation of olive stones for ethanol production using Pachysolen tannophilus

Cuevas-Aranda, Manuel; M. Saleh; García-Martín, Juan Francisco; Sánchez-Villasclaras, Sebastián

Processes, 8(2): 195. 2020

DOI: 10.3390/pr8020195

Combination of phisicochemical conditions and algal culture as a new bioprocess for olive mil wastewater treatment

Malvis-Romero, Ana; Hodaifa-Meri, Gassan; Maaitah, Murad; Sánchez-Villasclaras, Sebastián

Biomass and Bioenergy, 138 (2020)

DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2020.105603

Metal accumulation by Jatropha curcas L. Adult plants grown on heavy metal-contaminated soil

Juan Francisco García Martín; María del Carmen González Caro; María del Carmen López Barrera; Miguel Torres García; Douglas Fernandes Barbin; Paloma Álvarez Mateos

Plants. 9 - 4, pp. 418 (2020)

DOI: 10.3390/plants9040418

Evaluation of different solvents on flavonoids extraction efficiency from sweet oranges and ripe and immature Seville oranges. International Journal of Food Science and Technology

Chao-Hui Feng; Juan Francisco García Martín; María Broncano Lavado; María del Carmen López Barrera; Paloma Álvarez Mateos

Willey 2020

DOI: 10.1111/ijfs.14576

Environmental assessment of olive mill solid waste valorization via anaerobic digestion versus olive pomace oil extraction

Bernabé Alonso Fariñas; Armando Oliva; Mónica Rodríguez Galán; Giovanni Esposito; Juan Francisco García Martín; Guillermo Rodríguez Gutiérrez; Antonio Serrano; Fernando González Fermoso

Processes. 8-5, pp.626 (2020)

DOI: 10.3390/pr8050626

Determination of pectin content in orange peels by near infrared hyperspectral imaging

Amanda Teixeira Badaró; Juan Francisco García Martín; María del Carmen López Barrera; Douglas Fernandes Barbin; Paloma Álvarez Mateos

Food Chemistry. 323-1, pp. 126861 – 2020

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.126861

Integrated process for olive oil mill wastewater treatment and its revalorization through the generation of high added value algal biomass

Ana Malvis, Gassan Hodaifa, Mansour Halioui, Mahdi Seyedsalehi, Sebastián Sanchez

 Water Research. Volume 151, pages 332-342, Elsevier (March 2019)

DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.12.026

Chemical oxidation methods for treatment of real industrial olive oil mill wastewater

Gassan Hodaifa, Pilar Alexandra Rivera Gallardo, Cristina Agabo García, Malgorzata Kowalska, Mahdi Seyedsalehi

Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Volume 97, April 2019, Pages 247-254

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtice.2019.02.001

Drying kinetics and effective water diffusivities in olive stone and olive-tree pruning

Cuevas M., Martínez-Cartas M.L., Pérez-Villarejo L., Hernández L., García-Martín J.F., Sánchez S.

Renewable Energy. Volume 132, March 2019, pages 911 - 920.

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.08.053

Antibiotic resistance in foodborne bacteria

M. Caniça, V. Manageiro, H. Abriouel, J. Moran-Gilad, C.M.A.P. Franz

Trends in Food Science & Technology . Volume 84, 2019, pp.41-44, ref.23

DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2018.08.001

A numerical and experimental study of the compression uniaxial properties of PLA manufactured with FDM technology based on product specifications  

J.M. Mercado; M.A. Rubio-Paramio; Rubia-García, Mª Dolores La; D. Lozano-Arjona; C. Martín-Doñate

International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 103(5-8): 1893-1909. 2019

DOI: 10.1007 / s00170-019-03626-0

Effect of short-time hydrothermal carbonization on the properties of hydrochars prepared from olive-fruit endocarps

Cuevas-Aranda, Manuel; Martínez-Cartas, Mª Lourdes; Sánchez-Villasclaras, Sebastián  

Energy and Fuels, 33(1): 313-322 (2019)

DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels-8b0.053

Effect of roasting temperature and time on the chemical composition and oxidative stability of argan (Argania spinosa L.) oils

Demnati, Dalila; Pacheco-Reyes, Rafael; L. Martínez; Sánchez-Villasclaras, Sebastián

European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 120: 1-6 (2019)

DOI: 10.1002/ejlt.201700136

Recycling of 'Alperujo' (olive pomace) as a key component in the sintering of lightweight aggregates

J.M. Moreno-Maroto; M. Uceda-Rodríguez; C. J. Cobo; F.M. Calero-De Hoces; M.A.Martín-Lara; M.T. Cotes-Palomino; López-García, Ana Belén; C. Martínez-García

Journal of Cleaner Production, 118041: 239. 2019

DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118041

Production of bioalcohols and antioxidant compounds by acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic wastes and fermentation ofhydrolysates with Hansenula polymorpha

Martínez-Cartas, Mª Lourdes; Inmaculada Olivares; Sánchez-Villasclaras, Sebastián

Engineering in Life Sciences, 33(1), 313-322- 2019

DOI: 10.1002/elsc.201900011

New insights into the molecular effects and probiotic properties of Lactobacillus pentosus pre-adapted to edible oils

Alonso-García; B. Pérez-Montoro; N. Benomar; S. Castillo-Gutiérrez; M.D. Estudillo-Martínez; C.W. Knapp; Hikmate Abriouel

LWT-Food Science and Technology, 109: 153-16 (2019) 

DOI:10.1016/j.lwt.2019.04.028

New insights into the role of plasmids from probiotic Lactobacillus pentosus MP 10 in Aloreña table olive brine fermentation

Abriouel, H., Pérez Montoro, B., De La Fuente Ordoñez, J.J., Lavilla Lerma, L., Knapp, C.W., Benomar, N.     

Scientific Reports 9:10938 - - 2019

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47384-1

Proteomic analysis of Lactobacillus pentosus for the identification of potential markers involved in acid resistance and their influence on other probiotic features

B. Pérez Montoro, N. Benomar, N. Caballero Gómez, S. Ennahar, P. Horvatovich, C.W. Knapp, A. Gálvez, H. Abriouel

Food Research International. Volume 111, September 2018, pages 58-66

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2018.04.072

Biotreatment optimization of rice straw hydrolyzates for ethanolic fermentation with Scheffersomyces stipitis

Bruno G. Fonseca, Soledad Mateo, Alberto J. Moya, Inés C. Roberto

Biomass and Bioenergy. Volume 112, May 2018, pages 19-28

DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2018.0

Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil in an oscillatory flow reactor. Performance as a fuel on a TDI diesel engine

Juan Francisco García-Martín, Carmen C.Barrios, Francisco-Javier Alés-Álvarez, Aida Dominguez-Sáez, Paloma Alvarez-Mateos

Renewable Energy. Volume 125, September 2018, Pages 546-556

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.03.002

Influence of a diet enriched with virgin olive oil or butter on mouse gut microbiota and its correlation to physiological and biochemical parameters related to metabolic syndrome

Prieto; M. Hidalgo; A.B. Segarra; A.M. Martínez-Rodríguez; A. Cobo; M. Ramírez; Hikmate Abriouel; A. Gálvez; M. Martínez-Cañamero

Plos One, 13(1): e0190368 2018

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190368

Proteomic analysis of Lactobacillus pentosus for the identification of potential markers involved in acid resistance and their influence on other probiotic features

Pérez; N. Benomar; N. Caballero; S. Ennahar; P. Horvatovich; C.W. Knapp; A. Gálvez; Hikmate Abriouel

Food Microbiology, 72: 31-38     2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2017.11.006

High power ultrasound frequency for olive paste conditioning: effect on the virgin olive oil bioactive compounds and sensorial characteristics

M.A. Bejaoui; Sánchez-García, Alejandro; M.P. Aguilera; M.J. Ruíz; Sánchez-Villasclaras, Sebastián; A. Jiménez; G. Beltrán-Maza  Innovative

Food Science and Emerging Technologies, 47: 136-145 (2018)

DOI: 10.1016/j.ifset.2018.02.002

Nondestructive measurement of squalene in olive oil by near infrared spectroscopy

J.A. Cayuela; García-Martín, Juan Francisco

LWT-Food Science and Technology, 88: 103-108 (2018)

DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2017.09.047

Profitable and Sustainable Artisanal Olive Oil Industry In the Mediterranean (ARTOLIO)

Entidad financiadora: Unión Europea. Programa ENI CBC MED

Referencia: B_A.1.2_0012

Investigador principal: Giora Ben Arin

Año de inicio: 2021

Presupuesto: 2.900.000,00 €

New generation of biocomposites based on olive fibers for industrial applications (COMPOLIVE)

Entidad Financiadora: Unión Europea. Programa LIFE

Referencia:

Investigador principal: Manuela Cano Galey

Año de inicio: 2019

Presupuesto: 1.722.239,00 €

Acción 1: ‘Desarrollo de indicadores que determinen el perfil físico-químico y sensorial de los aceites de oliva vírgenes producidos en Denominaciones de Origen Protegidas’

Acción 2: ‘Alternativas tecnológicas en la separación de micropartículas y humedad en las etapas finales del proceso de elaboración de aceites de oliva vírgenes de calidad’.

Entidad financiadora: Campus de Excelencia Internacional en Agroalimentación. Proyecto singular AgroMIS      

Referencia: AgroMIS 2020

Investigador principal: Sebastián Sánchez Villasclaras

Año de inicio: 2021

Presupuesto: 75.000 €

Tratamiento de aguas residuales, eliminación de dióxido de carbono de efluentes gaseosos de la industria oleícola, producción de microalgas a nivel de miniplanta y obtención de biocombustibles

Entidad financiadora: Proyectos I+D+i en el marco del Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucía 2014-2020

Referencia: 1381643

Investigador principal: Sebastián Sánchez Villasclaras

Año de inicio: 2021

Presupuesto: 60.498,79 €

Fighting the X. fastidiosa threat to EU agriculture - Novel smart biopesticides based on bacterial spores

Entidad Financiadora: Unión Europea. Horizont 2020

Referencia: H2020-EU.1.3.2

Investigador principal: Hikmate Abriouel Hayani

Año de inicio: 2021

Presupuesto: 259.398,72 €

Estrategias para la reversión de la resistencia a los antibióticos en bacterias multirresistentes presentes en la cadena alimentaria

Entidad Financiadora: Ayudas a la I+D+i en el ámbito del Plan Andaluz de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación (PAIDI)

Referencia: P20_00983

Investigador principal: Hikmate Abriouel Hayani

Año de inicio: 2021

Presupuesto: 116.271,00 €

Novel approaches to promote the sustainability of Olive groves in the Mediterranean (SUSTAINOLIVE)         

Entidad financiadora: Convocatoria Europea PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area). Cofinanciado con fondos Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union

Referencia: Farming System 9

Investigador principal: Roberto García Ruiz

Año de inicio: 2019

Presupuesto: 2.032.690,17 €

Revalorización y reutilización de efluentes gaseosos (gases de combustión, CO2) y líquidos (aguas residuales urbanas e industriales) mediante el uso de Tecnologías Avanzadas de Oxidación y producción de biomasa algal de alto valor añadido

Entidad Financiadora: Proyectos I+D+i en el marco del Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucía 2014-2020

Referencia: 1260312

Investigador principal: Gassan Hodaifa Meri

Año de inicio: 2020

Presupuesto: 32.917,00 €

Hacia una economía circular mediante la reincorporación y reutilización de los residuos industriales y urbanos en la descontaminación y producción de energía renovable

Entidad Financiadora: Ayudas Puente para la concurrencia al Plan Estatal de I+D con cargo al Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia 2018-2020

Referencia: RTI2018-101875-B-C22

Investigador principal: Gassan Hodaifa Meri

Año de inicio: 2020

Presupuesto: 5.128,88 €

Ampliación y adecuación de la planta piloto de fermentaciones semi-industriales

Entidad Financiadora: Adquisición de equipamiento científico-técnico correspondientes al subprograma estatal de infraestructuras de investigación y equipamiento científico-técnico. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad y fondos FEDER

Referencia: EQC2018-005093-P

Investigador principal: Juan Jiménez Martínez

Año de inicio: 2018

Presupuesto: 131.894,00 €

Utilización de aguas residuales de almazaras y urbanas como medio nutriente en la producción de algas unicelulares con destino a la generación de compuestos energéticos

Entidad Financiadora: Universidad Pablo de Olavide y Junta de Andalucía “Financiación a proyectos puente” con cargo al Plan de Fortalecimiento para la I+D+i financiado por la Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento de la Junta de Andalucía

Referencia: CTM2016-78950-C2-1-R

Investigador principal: Gassan Hodaifa Meri

Año de inicio: 2018

Presupuesto: 7.000,00 €

Studies about to characterization, extraction and refining of oils

Set up of basic operations

Treatment and characterization of water, gaseous effluents and solid waste from the olive oil industry

Biotechnological process trials

Customer assistance on the preparation of projects for olive oil industries, and industrial equipment