Separation of squalene from olive oil deodorizer distillate using supercritical fluids

In this study, an integrated strategy using supercritical fluids for extraction of squalene from olive oil deodorizer distillate (OODD), one of the most important by-products of the olive oil refining process is presented. First, OODD was esterified in supercritical methanol, and then squalene was extracted from the sample consisting of 66% methyl ester using supercritical CO2. The extraction conditions, i.e., pressure (88.2-121.8 bar), temperature (41.6-58.4 degrees C) and extraction time (129.6-230.4 min), were optimized via RSM to achieve the highest squalene content. The optimal results were obtained at a temperature of 52.05 degrees C, pressure of 104.8 bar and extraction time of 180 min. Consequently, two kinds of value-added products such as biodiesel (up to 96% FAME, in extract) and olive squalene (up to 75%, in raffinate) were produced in shorter processing times when compared with distillation results of 70 h.