Novozymes reveals new liquefaction platform and yeast technology

During this year’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Indianapolis, US, biofuel industries technology provider Novozymes announced two major launches: a new liquefaction platform and advanced yeast technology.

Fortiva® is a new alpha-amylase technology that results in starch conversions levels never before seen in the ethanol industry, according to the company.

The new yeast technology, Innova® Force, is an advanced, flexible yeast available in a cream or dry format.

“Fortiva and Innova Force both provide ethanol producers with the technology needed to push for greater profits in changing market conditions – and they underline Novozymes’ continued commitment to support the ethanol industry with innovation that makes a real, meaningful difference for the producer,” said Brian Brazeau, vice-president, biofuels commercial North America at Novozymes.

“Novozymes has always spearheaded biological innovation for the ethanol industry; Fortiva and Force continue that journey with more to come as we work to unlock the full potential of biology.”

Higher ethanol yields

According to the company, Fortiva maximises the conversion of corn inputs into profit in a very tight margin environment, creating on average 1% higher ethanol yield and 20% lower residual starch.

“This latest technology from Novozymes outpaces all other liquefaction technologies for input conversion and process efficiency,” added Brazeau. “Bringing meaningful innovation to the market is something very important to our customers and to Novozymes. Recent transformational innovations, such as our patented thermostable protease, have returned significant value to ethanol producers and while thermostable protease was transformational, Fortiva is the next leap in amylase technology – beyond anything we have previously seen or developed in this space.”

Flexibility for ethanol plants

Innova Force targets ethanol plants looking for flexibility to achieve operational targets without compromising on performance. It enables producers to achieve throughput and yield targets without losing ethanol yield to stressors like high temperature and organic acids.

“Within 1.5 years of launching our first yeast, over one quarter of North American ethanol plants now use Novozymes’ yeast, clearly signalling the need for the performance, flexibility, and reliability Innova solutions deliver,” Brazeau continued.

He concluded: “By leveraging the biological synergies and sustainability of our enzymes, yeast, and technical service platforms, Novozymes has reset performance expectations for ethanol production. The launches of the Innova Force fermentation solution and Fortiva, our newest liquefaction solution, together deliver the most holistic, sustainable, and advanced approach to ethanol production, all based on customer needs and our commitment to a better tomorrow using transformational biology.”