The LIPES project was dedicated to reaching the first market replication of an innovative production process leading to greener and healthier fatty acids. The LIPES approach involved an enzymatic process as an environmentally friendly alternative to the current thermal hydrolysis and saponification production routes. Its objectives were to lead to the creation of high purity bio-based intermediates and end products from vegetable oils and fats.
The overall objectives of the LIPES project were :
- To perform the scale-up to pre-industrial level of a new, economically viable and environmentally friendly alternative process leading to higher quality fatty acids and derivatives, therefore widening their range of application
- To optimise resource efficiency with a minimum saving of 45% water consumption, 70% of enzymes and 80% of energetic consumption over traditional processes
- To contribute to reaching the EC goals on waste reduction by elaborating and evaluating new value chains for making use of agricultural co-products
During this reported period, the LIPES project delivered on the operation of the demo unit for the enzymatic hydrolysis process in continuous mode through a series of modifications to the process and installation. Demo trials have led to the hydrolysis of 55 tons of sunflower and high oleic sunflower oil (crude and refined) and 10 tons of rapeseed oil to specifications. Overall, optimisations and adaptations of equipment have led to less failures and for longer periods of time in continuous mode, i.e. to an overall better process control of the demo unit. On castor oil hydrolysis, 95% hydrolysis could finally be reached, but still with a high enzyme consumption and therefore a high cost; this is leading to further investigations. In parallel, OLEON, STC and TUB set the basis for a flagship unit for the enzymatic hydrolysis of high oleic oils (rape, sunflower, linseed, soybean) and the size of the required unit was determined; a basic design of the flagship unit and a first budget have been estimated.
Synthesis and evaluation of esters from enzymatically produced fatty acids was performed. A series of esters: polyglycerol polyricinoleate, glycerol monooleate, trimethylolpropane trioleate were synthesised, characterised and favorably evaluated respectively in food, cosmetic and lubricant applications in comparison with the reference ingredients manufactured from fatty acids obtained through the classical hydrolysis route involving the thermal hydrolysis process. Polymerisation of hydrogenated dimer fatty acid produced from enzymatically hydrolysed fatty acids was attempted but did not reach the targeted melt viscosity. Nevertheless, conditions of the polymerisation process itself could be optimised and in addition to this, efforts have been targeted to improve the process mixing equipment.
Finally, training activities took place during the course of the last period at Maastricht University and although the organisation of dissemination activities has been greatly impacted by the COVID 19 sanitary crisis, a project day event has been organised alongside the BIOKET international conference held in March 2021 to present the outcomes of the LIPES project to a wide audience.
