Olive oil adulteration and energy efficiency: analytical innovations and sustainable perspectives - an integrative review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21712/lajer.2025.v12.n3.p164-173

Keywords:

olive oil; adulteration; energy efficiency; sustainability; analytical methods.

Abstract

Olive oil adulteration represents a growing challenge to product authenticity, food safety, and sustainability. This integrative review analyzed 18 studies published between 2023 and 2025, selected according to PRISMA criteria, focusing on analytical methods applied to fraud detection and their relationship with energy efficiency. Optical, magnetic, chromatographic, and multisensory techniques were evaluated based on sensitivity, energy consumption, waste generation, automation, and equipment life cycle. The NIR and TD‑NMR methods and the multisensor system were the most energy-efficient according to the parameters analyzed, achieving accuracies above 90% and detection limits between 2% and 5%. Conventional techniques, while accurate, require more infrastructure and higher energy input and generate chemical waste. Integration with artificial intelligence was recurrent, enhancing the robustness of predictive models. Despite progress, gaps remain, such as reliance on complex laboratories, the need for industrial validation, and the limited availability of portable devices with high precision. Considering these limitations, future perspectives point to the development of miniaturized sensors and autonomous analytical systems capable of performing local data processing and enabling rapid, accurate, energy-efficient, and sustainable analyses across various production and regulatory contexts.

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Author Biographies

  • Maria de Fátima Pereira dos Santos, Federal University of Espírito Santo - UFES

    She holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry with a Technological Orientation (1990), a Licentiate degree in Chemistry (1991), and a specialization in Higher Education Teaching Methodology (1995) from the Souza Marques Technical Educational Foundation. She also holds a specialization in Petroleum Engineering from Estácio de Sá University (2001), a Master's degree in Analytical Chemistry from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2004), and a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the Federal University of Santa Maria (2009). She has been a professor at the technical and higher education levels in private institutions since 1991. She was a Chemical Technician and Chemist in the Refining Management and a researcher in the Primary Processing and Petroleum Evaluation Management of the Leopoldo Américo Miguez de Mello Research and Development Center since 1992. She was a consultant on standards for the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards in the study committee on fuels and special products. She has participated in working groups in the area of ​​precision methods and in the area of ​​quality according to ISO 17025 at the Brazilian Institute of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels since 2000. She has participated in research projects integrating Petrobras S.A. and the following universities: UFRJ, UFMA, UFSM, UFPI, UFRN and UNIT. Currently, she is a Full Professor of Petroleum Analytical Chemistry. She coordinated the Postgraduate Program in Energy at the Federal University of Espírito Santo from 2016 to 2017. She has experience in the area of ​​Petroleum Chemistry, with emphasis on quality control, method validation and characterization using physicochemical measurement techniques, combustion, solvent extraction, gravimetric, potentiometric, X-ray fluorescence, infrared, ultraviolet, chemiluminescence and thermogravimetric methods. She is a permanent member of the PPGEN (Postgraduate Program in Energy), Master's program in Energy, research line: Petroleum, gas and renewable energies. Her work focuses mainly on the following topics: mixture behavior and determination of solubility parameters in Brazilian petroleum; use of alternative microwave and ultrasound energies in the separation of heavy petroleum emulsions; and the development, optimization, and validation of methods for the characterization of extra-heavy petroleum, as well as the development of methods for determining dielectric and electrical properties in petroleum and petroleum emulsions. On November 10, 2016, she was honored by the Laboratory of Industrial and Environmental Chemical Analysis of the Federal University of Santa Maria for her encouragement of research and support of CEPETRO. She holds four patent grants and eight patent applications for technological innovation in the petroleum field. Of particular note is the granting of patents by the Federal University of Espírito Santo, part of the 5th and 10th patents published by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). The invention of the 10th published patent refers to the use of ultrasonic waves in a sustainable process for recovering base oil from used lubricating oil, with less impact on the environment. In June 2024, I was appointed to the Advisory Committee for Productivity Grants in Technological Development and Innovative Extension (CA-DT).

  • Felipe Ravelly Alves de Souza, Federal University of Espírito Santo - UFES

    PhD in Biotechnology from INMETRO (2025). Master's degree in Biotechnology - Federal University of Pernambuco (2021). Bioprocess and Biotechnology Engineer from the Federal University of Campina Grande - UFCG, at the Center for Sustainable Development of the Semi-Arid - CDSA (2018); Technician in Installation and Maintenance of Computer Equipment and Networks, from the Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Paraíba - IFPB (2012); Experience in quality management, handling of (agro)industrial waste, metabolic engineering, fermentative processes, evaluation and development of biomaterials, organic synthesis, nuclear magnetic resonance, and chromatography.

  • Maristela de Araujo Vicente, Federal University of Espírito Santo - UFES

    She holds a degree in Pharmacy from the Federal University of Ouro Preto (1992), a master's degree in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Ouro Preto (2003), and a doctorate in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Ouro Preto (2007). She is currently an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Espírito Santo, assigned to the Department of Natural Sciences. She teaches courses in Analytical Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis. She has experience in the field of Analytical Chemistry, with an emphasis on Analytical Instrumentation, working mainly on the following topics: sample preparation, petroleum, ultrasound, water, remediation. She holds 3 national innovation patents and 1 international patent.

References

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Published

11/29/2025

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2025): 1 EIE

Section

Eficiência Energética

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Copyright (c) 2025 Latin American Journal of Energy Research

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How to Cite

Pereira dos Santos, M. de F., Alves de Souza, F.R. and de Araujo Vicente, M. (2025) “Olive oil adulteration and energy efficiency: analytical innovations and sustainable perspectives - an integrative review”, Latin American Journal of Energy Research, 12(3), pp. 164–173. doi:10.21712/lajer.2025.v12.n3.p164-173.

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