Enzymatic fat-splitting partners

Novonesis and Thyssenkrupp Uhde are jointly launching a fat-splitting process using Novonesis’s Lipura Split enzyme. This is claimed to redefine fatty acid production, “enabling producers to significantly reduce energy consumption, improve production flexibility, and enhance overall process efficiency”. 

The process is said to be adaptable to both existing operations and new capacity plants. It can cut Capex by up to 60%, shorten time to market and scale production from 50 tonnes/day. The offer is supported by a dedicated pilot plant to validate performance under real-world conditions. 

Where conventional splitting takes place at 260°C and 60 bar pressure, the enzymatic process runs at 70°C and atmospheric pressure, the partners added. This can reduce energy consumption by 40%, while also using 40% less water and boosting yield by up to 2%.