Transformative Technologies: Genencor launches new enzyme as white biotechnologies surge
Enzyme rendering (amylase)
In Missouri, Genencor launched its new Spezyme Robust Starch Liquefaction enzyme this morning at the 2010 Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo (FEW) in St. Louis, Mo. The latest in the company’s liquefaction product line, the enzyme more efficiently liquefies dry ground corn or milo, significantly reducing costs and increasing yields for ethanol producers.
According to the company, Spezyme RSL breaks down starch efficiently across a range pH levels, substantially reducing the amount of sulfuric acid that is required to complete the liquefaction process. Actual cost savings will vary depending on the production facility; however, many ethanol producers can expect to see a 25 to 50 percent reduction in sulfuric acid usage with Spezyme RSL.
“Genencor has focused their innovation on the needs of ethanol producers, resulting in real benefits for us,” remarked Stan Janson, Manager of Operation Big River Resources, LLC. “Their focus has been on improving corn to ethanol process by improving yields at a reasonable price. Genencor has the same goal as the producer, reducing the cost per gallon of ethanol produced.”
“This is liquefaction without compromise,” said Troy Wilson, Genencor’s vice president of grain processing.
More on the Genencor announcement.
More on Genencor
A look at “a new rock star in bio-based technologies”: bioisoprene projects at Genencor and GlycosBio.
Genencor bullish on Asia, Brazil for the future: a recent update of its corporate guidance in a Digest exclusive, here.
Elsewhere in enzymes
Purple Haze: The Digest’s most recent update on enzyme technologies, here – including the introduction of Accelerse DUET, Cellic CTec2, and Verenium’s Xylathin.
At Novozymes: Novozymes announced the launch of Spirizyme Excel, which it projects will increase rebus for a typical ethanol plant by $1 million or more per year. Last month, energy crop company Ceres and Novozymes entered a research collaboration to co-develop customized plant varieties and enzyme cocktails for the production of cellulosic biofuel.
At Codexis, Codexis was punished by investors despite reporting sharp increases in revenues and forecasting positive EBITDA for the the year. For the first quarter, the company reported revenues of $25.7 million, an increase of 32% from $19.4 million in the same period last year. For 2010, Codexis forecasted revenues of $94 million to $98 million, which would represent growth of 13% to 18% compared to 2009. Codexis expects Adjusted EBITDA to be positive for full year 2010.
At DSM, their “white biotechnology” vision was outlined last spring by DSM chairman Feike Sijbesma at BioVision, here. A $500 million market in enzymes was projected for 2010 by DSM.
At Oak Ridge, researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Bioenergy Research Center, publishing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, announced that they have identified a Z. mobilis gene vital to the improvement of cellulosic biofuel “recalcitrance,” or the resistance caused by biomass’ defense mechanisms to the work of enzymes in converting biomass to ethanol.
More Transformative Technologies
Tomorrow: Our look at Transformative Technologies continues with a look at biobutanol.
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