Researchers José Martínez and Teresa de la Rubia of the Department of Microbiology of the Faculty of Pharmacy have finished a research work that could put an end to the problem of toxic waste in oil production. The lecturers of the University of Granada have managed, thanks to a research project of Egmasa Company in collaboration with Caja Rural and Cooperativa La Palma, to turn a useless and highly harmful for the environment material, like alpeorujo, into an organic soil supplement.
Researchers Martínez and de la Rubia have managed «to turn alpeorujo into economically profitable and non-toxic with a type of microorganisms. In addition, we have managed to turn alpeorujo into compost (natural manure) with a fast and optimum process». The research work started by removing toxins to continue with the hypothesis reproduction on a pilot scale and material evaluation. «At present, we have tested three types of compost in pilot greenhouses instaled in the coast of Granada with amazing results». According to these researchers it is «the most significant finding in the olive grove in millenniums».
Th results of this research work, once alpechín (toxic liquid residue from olive oil) has been replaced of Andalusian oil mills, make it possible for companies to remove the problematic orujo oil from their production. This way, olive oil producers would sell alpeorujo as natural manure. «This kind of compost production, which is better than many of the products sold in the market, would avoid alpeorujo burning, which generates toxins and orujo oil production». According to its discoverers, the process is «fast, economical and profitable. In addition, it works, it only needs to be produced on a large scale and commercialized».
Reference: José Martínez and Teresa de la Rubia. Department of Microbiology. Faculty of Pharmacy
Phone number: 958 243873 // 243875 // 249968
