Chemical changes in virgin olive oils as a function of crushing systems: Stone mill and hammer crusher

Abstract

Abstract Olive oils were tested for their chemical composition in polyphenols, free fatty acids and volatile compounds as a function of the crushing systems, i.e. the stone mill and hammer crusher. The qualitative and quantitative HPLC/DAD analyses of the olive oils showed that luteolin and tyrosol were the most abundant identified phenolic compounds. The olive oil obtained by the hammer crusher had the highest concentration of phenolic compounds and ultimately the strongest antioxidant activity. Olives treated by the two crushing systems were observed by scanning electronic microscopy. Micrographs provide more evidence of the better cell cuts of olive fruits treated by hammer crushing, in contrast to stone mill where olive cell layers have been broken and damaged.