Page 162 - CW E-Magazine (18-2-2025)

News from Abroad

BIOCATALYSIS
Thyssenkrupp Uhde and Novonesis launch new

enzymatic esterifi cation technology

German chemical technology solu- expand their portfolios and enter new
tion provider, Thyssenkrupp Uhde, markets. The proprietary design of the
in partnership with Denmark-based enzyme bed allows up to 30 circula-
bio-solutions fi rm, Novonesis (formerly tions per hour which ensures effi cient
Novozymes), has launched uhde and cost-effective production. Thus,
enzymatic esterifi cation – a more sus- the enzymatic esterifi cation process
tainable alternative to conventional is optimised for short reaction times,
esterifi cation. resulting in competitive enzyme cost
per ton of product, higher annual pro-
Esterifi cation plays a crucial role in ing in substantial energy savings and a duction, and superior product quality,”
the oleochemical value chain by con- reduction in greenhouse gas emissions the companies said.
verting natural fatty acids into the cor- by up to 60%.
responding esters. These bio-based and Retrofi t solutions
biodegradable esters are then utilised in Additionally, the process has an To facilitate the transition to
a wide range of day-to-day products for inherently safer design due to the enzymatic esterifi cation, Thyssenkrupp
food, personal care, household care and absence of chemical catalysts and lower Uhde is offering an add-on retrofi t
technical applications. operating temperatures. package that allows existing plants to
run both conventional and enzymatic
The new enzymatic esterifi cation “The proprietary reactor design and esterifi cation processes. This stepwise
process developed by Thyssenkrupp enzyme technology ensure high per- transition approach minimises invest-
Uhde leverages Novonesis’ bespoke formance, leading to minimised side ment costs and risks while enabling
enzymes as catalysts, replacing tradi- reactions and reduced waste by up to businesses to quickly enter the grow-
tional chemical catalysts such as inor- 60%. This not only raises the quali- ing market for sustainable products.
ganic acids or metal-based catalysts. ty of the fi nal product but also opens Already successfully applied in a pilot
This innovative approach operates at the door to the creation of completely plant, the technology is now ready for
signifi cantly lower temperatures, result- new products, allowing businesses to scale-up and industrial application.

REDUCING EMISSIONS
Global Bioenergies announces new tie-up to develop

cost-effective SAF technology

French biotech fi rm, Global Bio- aiming at relaying the current SAF pro-
energies, has signed a term sheet duction based on used cooking oil,’ the
with a large international industria- company informed.
list (whose name was not disclosed)
to co-develop a process leading to Mr. Marc Delcourt, co-founder and
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) at CEO of Global Bioenergies, said, “Fol-
a reduced cost and an improved CO lowing our ASTM certifi cation during
2
reduction. the summer 2023, we have teamed up
with a large industrialist who had iden-
This process will rely on the combi- “Such combination, which reached tifi ed a perfect match between their
nation of Global Bioenergies’ bio-iso- early proof-of-concept stage, would technology and Global Bioenergies’.
butene process and the industrialist’s have a decisive competitive advantage The combination of both technologies
proprietary technology. among the existing SAF technologies, would result in a process overcoming

162 Chemical Weekly February 18, 2025

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