Developing Processes for Products from Algae
HEALTH & PHARMA
FeyeCon is currently developing optimized processes for the entire process chain – from algae harvesting to final marketable products, including products based on polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants in the form of food supplements, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals ready for human or animal consumption.
By utilizing our CO2 technology we use processing techniques which are completely non-toxic, faster and yield higher quality results. We employ a combination of extraction and fractionation techniques which use supercritical carbon dioxide. The algae experience no heat stress or other damage that usually results from abrasive conventional processing and are left with no residual solvents in them.
An example of possible products from algae is fatty acids. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are universally recognized as being important to human health. These essential fatty acids (EFAs) cannot be produced by the human body on its own and therefore need to be consumed as part of one’s diet. Benefits of consumption are vast, from decreases in cholesterol, atherosclerosis and blood pressure to reduced inflammation and autoimmune responses.
By producing pharmaceutical and food grade fatty acids from microalgae, these products are rich in essential fatty acids while fish stocks – the traditional source of fatty acids – are not depleted or threatened.
CONVERTING BIOMASS
Microalgae are a promising alternative biomass source. One of the biggest challenges in processing microalgae biomass is their resistant cell walls, which prevent many extraction methods from being economically successful. High water content in microalgae biomass is conventionally eliminated with costly and oxidation causing drying techniques. Our extraction methods are insensitive to algal moisture content, making drying a non-issue. Moreover resistant microalgae cell walls can be easily broken down by our biotechnological methods so as to increase extraction yields.
