Project description
New bio-based solvent for processing oilseed
The vegetable oil and related protein sectors employ petroleum-based hexane to extract oil from plant materials, but this is harmful to human health and the environment. The EU-funded EcoXtract project will therefore develop a new bio-based solvent for processing of oil- and protein-rich crops that will replace hexane and transform this global agri-food sector. At the heart of the initiative lies an extensive programme of industrial-scale system testing, validation and optimisation followed by product prototyping driven by the requirements of two value chains. Consortium members comprising five complementary SMEs will construct the world's first large-scale and first small-scale EcoXtract-based oil extraction plants in Europe. The commercial-scale optimisation of EcoXtract® will provide a major step forward for the bio-based sector.
Objective
The vegetable oil and related protein sectors use petroleum-based hexane to extract oil from plant materials. Hexane-based extraction is an old technology that is harmful to health and to the environment. Our ambition is to bring a new biobased solvent called EcoXtract® to the market for processing of oil- and protein-rich crops. This will replace hexane in a million tonne/year market leading to transformation of this global agri-food sector. The project will enable us to construct the world’s first large-scale and first small-scale EcoXtract-based oil extraction plants in Europe. This will be followed by world-wide transformation beyond the consortium enabled by our patented solvent technology: EcoXtract.
We will use an open innovation approach between five complementary European businesses. Agroprotein is a developer of agri-food plant protein- and oil-based value chains. Pennakem is a global leader in green solvent systems. It developed and now owns the EcoXtract solvent technology. De Wit is a world leader in extracting and marketing high-value oilseed products. NHE is a leader in operating and scaling up extraction systems. An extensive programme of industrial-scale system testing, validation and optimisation followed by product prototying driven by the needs of two value chains lies at the heart of the project. Supported also by co-creative prototyping with clients, we will develop three new mutually supporting business lines within the EcoXtract® framework pioneering global transition of the sector to this new technology.
Oilseeds account for about one-fifth of global crop production. This project will revolutionise processing by introducing a biobased alternative to hexane in both low and high volume markets. The commercial-scale optimization of EcoXtract® will be a big step forward for the biobased sector and advance Horizon 2020’s impact on Societal Challenge 2 opening up new markets for the biobased solvent and its extraction products.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
49661 CLOPPENBURG
Germany