C18 alkyl-modified silica: A suitable tool for olive biophenol green extraction

A clean and straightforward methodology to assess the value of olive mill wastewater (OMWW) samples as well as to obtain biophenol-rich oils that can find employment in a variety of cosmetic, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products is described. The method employs chromatographic spherical organosilica microparticles, coupled to advanced analytical techniques. OMWW samples obtained in Sicily from two different organically grown cultivars during the exceptional 2015/2016 olive oil season were analyzed, leading us to establish the conditions for optimal extraction of hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol.