Loading olive mill wastewater polyphenols in microparticles via spray drying

Olive mill wastewater (OMW), derived from olive oil production, has the potential to be transformed, thanks to various handling protocols, from a waste product with environmental concerns into a wealthy product. In fact, OMW is rich in polyphenols and other natural antioxidants, which play a vital role in human health through the regulation of metabolism, chronic disease and cell proliferation (1). The conversion of OMW into a free-flowing solid powdered form, with maintained antioxidant properties, represents, therefore, a challenging target, with great potential for the development of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic products, in the perspective of a circular economy approach.