Malaxation of olive paste under sealed conditions

Virgin olive oils from pilot-scale malaxation under hermetically sealed conditions were compared with olive oils from industrial conventional open-to-air malaxation (control). Under sealed conditions, large CO2 emissions coupled with O2 depletion occur. Oil samples produced under sealed conditions were less oxidized and contained greater concentrations of antioxidant compounds (especially secoiridoids phenols) than the control. These results were attributed to the reduced O2 concentration in the hermetically sealed pilot-scale malaxer. The amounts and types of volatile compounds present in the oil were only slightly affected by the treatment.