Natural micro-talc additive used in olive oil extraction.
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TALCOIL – Micronised Mineral Talc for Olive Oil Extraction
TALCOIL is a finely micronised natural mineral talc specifically designed for use in olive oil extraction. Produced by Minerales MIVICO in Spain, it serves as a technological aid that enhances oil recovery, increases processing capacity, and produces cleaner, brighter olive oil.
This food-grade talc is a hydrated magnesium silicate, free from asbestos and compliant with European Union food additive regulations (E553b). It is widely used in olive mills to optimise the malaxation phase by improving paste consistency, reducing emulsions, and facilitating oil separation.
TALCOIL is suitable for use in modern olive oil processing lines where efficiency, hygiene, and quality are priorities. Its use is especially recommended when the olive paste has a moisture content above 50%, ensuring effective oil recovery with minimal product loss.
TALCOIL helps improve the efficiency and yield of olive oil extraction by reducing emulsions and increasing oil separation during malaxation. Its physical properties allow better coalescence of oil droplets and faster clarification of the final product.
The product is food-grade certified and entirely free from asbestos, ensuring safety and compliance with European food industry standards. Its inert nature makes it stable, odourless, and non-reactive, while its fine particle size ensures easy dispersion in olive paste.
TALCOIL enables olive mills to achieve cleaner oils, reduce processing time, and enhance capacity, particularly in high-moisture pastes or difficult batches. Minimal doses already provide visible improvement, making it a practical and cost-effective aid for professional processors.
Better Yield of Extraction | More working capacity | Cleaner olive oil | Minimum dosage
TALCOIL is commercialised as an authorised processing aid by the EU to improve the extraction of virgin olive oil.
TALCOIL consists of natural micro-talc which is an effective solution when difficult paste presents. The totality of TALCOIL is pure talc, which joined to its high micronisation, it guarantees a product with excellent results when it comes to difficult pastes. Talcoil is regarded as a superfine talc.
THE PROBLEM: DIFFICULT PASTES
Sometimes, and due to different circumstances subjected by the olive fruit during the growing season, the extraction of virgin olive oil can become difficult if the fruit has been subjected to excess moisture.
During the stage of malaxing the olive paste sometimes does not have the appropriate structure and/or consistency to carry out proper extraction. An emulsion may appear and the phases of liquid and solid are not easy to separate. When is happens, a considerable amount of olive oil is lost in solid phase and it goes out with the pomace/waste. As a result, the yield of extraction is lower than normal which causes important economical loss in the manufacturing process.
Paddles not coming out clean in the malaxing tank
THE SOLUTION: TALCOIL
TALCOIL breaks the emulsion which origins the difficult paste so the olive oil can be released and it is then easier to separate. A very low dose of TALCOIL gets outstanding results. The expense in natural microtalc is nothing in comparison to the profit due to increase the yield of extraction. The usage of natural microtalc is regulated by the EU and by many studies that prove its effectiveness.
Higher extraction where microtalc was added (left)
The other test tube has no talc (right)
More Information:
TALCOIL: BULK DENSITY: 0.45 g/cm³
The dosing system must be adjusted to a density of 0.45, and the amount of TALCOIL to add will mainly depend on the moisture content of the paste.
HOW MUCH TALCOIL DO I NEED?
The use of TALCOIL is recommended when the moisture content of the ground paste exceeds 50%.
It is advised not to exceed 1% of TALCOIL, as this could be excessive and lead to oil loss with the pomace. Minimal doses of TALCOIL already offer excellent results.
Dosing is never an exact science. It is the experienced master of the mill who will know how to make good use of TALCOIL. It is very important to control the paste's moisture and extraction yields to ensure proper dosing.
TALCOIL MOISTURE
50% -> 0.2% (2 kg per ton of olives)
60% -> 0.4% (4 kg per ton of olives)
70% -> 0.5% (5 kg per ton of olives)
80% -> 0.7% (7 kg per ton of olives)
TALCOIL can also be used with dosers of this type. The trick is to adjust the amount of talc dispensed by the doser for a given minimum density, keeping in mind that TALCOIL always has a density of 0.45.
The following page shows a conversion table indicating the feeding rate of the doser depending on its minimum density and the desired amount of TALCOIL to add.
TABLE OF CONVERSIONS FOR DOSERS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE DENSITY 0.45
Desired Amount of Talc to Add (kg talc/ton olives)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Minimum Density of the Doser
Adjusted Doser Amount
0.5
2.22
3.33
4.44
5.56
6.67
7.78
8.89
10.00
11.11
0.55
2.44
3.67
4.89
6.11
7.33
8.56
9.78
11.00
12.22
0.6
2.67
4.00
5.33
6.67
8.00
9.33
10.67
12.00
13.33
0.65
2.89
4.33
5.78
7.22
8.67
10.11
11.56
13.00
14.44
0.7
3.11
4.67
6.22
7.78
9.33
10.89
12.44
14.00
15.56
0.75
3.33
5.00
6.67
8.33
10.00
11.67
13.33
15.00
16.67
0.8
3.56
5.33
7.11
8.89
10.67
12.44
14.22
16.00
17.78
0.85
3.78
5.67
7.56
9.44
11.33
13.22
15.11
17.00
18.89
0.9
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
16.00
18.00
20.00
0.95
4.22
6.33
8.44
10.56
12.67
14.78
16.89
19.00
21.11
1.0
4.44
6.67
8.89
11.11
13.33
15.56
17.78
20.00
22.22
Example: If the minimum density of the doser is 0.75 and I want to add talc at 0.3%, i.e., 3 kg of talc per ton of olives, I have to look at the table and see where 0.75 density intersects with 3 for the desired amount. In this case, it intersects at 5.00. This means I will adjust the doser to 5 kg of TALCOIL, but it will actually be dosing 3 kg of microtalc, which is what I wanted. We have "tricked" the doser to adapt it to our needs.
Talc, also known as magnesium silicate, plays a significant role as a processing aid in olive oil extraction processing. Talc and its finer variant, microtalc, are commonly used in olive oil production to improve the efficiency of the extraction process, particularly in challenging conditions like high-moisture fruit.
Talc is a natural mineral composed of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. It has a high adsorption surface and a lipophilic nature, which means it has the ability to absorb and attract oil droplets, increasing their size and aiding in their separation from water during processing.
The traditional use of talc powder in the olive oil industry has led to the development of microtalc powder, a more refined version of talc with a smaller particle size and higher specific surface area. This improvement allows for better performance in extraction processes with less product use.
Increases Extraction Efficiency: Talc aids in creating a structure in the olive paste during malaxation, which is essential for optimal separation in the decanter. It prevents the paste from sticking to the internal walls of the malaxer, thus facilitating a smoother and more efficient extraction process.
Improves Oil Quality: Talc does not chemically alter the olive oil, as it remains a physical processing aid. This ensures that the oil’s sensory qualities, such as taste and color, are maintained.
Ideal for High Moisture Conditions: Talc and microtalc are particularly beneficial when processing olive varieties with high moisture content (above 56%). These varieties often present challenges in terms of oil extraction, and the addition of talc helps to absorb excess water, improving the overall yield.
Versatility: Talc can be used across various olive varieties, especially with difficult-to-process fruits like Arbequina, Leccino, and Manzanillo. It is also useful when dealing with small malaxer grids or low extraction efficiencies.
Talc Powder: Traditional talc powder has a median particle size (d50%) of 8µm, with a specific surface area of 3.6 m²/gram. The recommended dosage typically ranges from 0.5% to 3% of the olive paste, depending on the moisture content and variety of olives being processed.
Microtalc Powder: Microtalc is a finer product with a particle size of 2µm and a specific surface area of 7.0 m²/gram. This refined version requires a lower dosage, generally between 0.3% and 1%.
During olive oil extraction, talc is added to the olive paste in the malaxer, where it helps to absorb water and increase the size of the oil droplets. This structure facilitates better separation in the decanter. Additionally, talc prevents the paste from sticking to the equipment, ensuring a more efficient process and a higher yield of oil.
Talc is particularly useful when working with:
High-moisture fruit: Varieties that contain more than 56% water.
Small malaxer grids: Grids between 4 to 5 mm in size benefit from talc's structural properties.
Low extraction efficiencies: When extraction rates are below 85%, talc can help boost the process.
Talc can be used alongside other processing aids, such as enzymes depending on the condition of the olives. When combined with enzymes, talc can further enhance paste extractability, especially in low maturity fruits or during seasons where extraction is difficult.
Talc and microtalc powders are essential processing aids in olive oil extraction, particularly when dealing with high-moisture olives or challenging extraction conditions. By improving the structure of the olive paste and enhancing oil separation, talc increases extraction efficiency without altering the quality of the final product.
Its versatility, effectiveness, and minimal impact on oil quality make it a valuable tool in the olive oil production process.
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