EVONIK'S OSN MEMBRANES FOR NATURAL AND ESSENTIAL OILS AND BIOFUELS

FRACTIONATION OF CRUDE EXTRACTS

Components derived from natural extracts (from fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs) are used in a variety of industries, e.g. pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, flavor & fragrance, etc. due to their inherent properties and chemical diversity. Their use, however, as a crude extract often is not practical and the molecules of interest constitute only a small part of the extract. The use of Evonik’s OSN membranes with different cut-offs enables fractionation of the crude extracts according to MW or solubility of the molecules in (different) solvents and mixtures.

NATURAL OILS PROCESSING - DEWAXING AND ENRICHMENT

Natural oils are widely used as additives in the food, beverages and cosmetic industries. They enrich the taste, flavor or fragrance of products. Their composition, however, should not affect the appearance and quality of the final goods. Unwanted compounds (e.g. waxes in citrus oils) can be removed with Evonik’s OSN membranes replacing conventional high-energy consuming technologies (e.g. crystallization).

POLISHING OF BIOFUELS

Biofuels are an important sector for addressing the need for sustainable transportation. As they are derived from a wide variety of feedstocks and production processes, it is common for minor components or side-products, such as coloured compounds, to pass through the production process into the final product. Evonik’s OSN membranes provide a sustainable and energy-efficient approach to “polishing” the biofuel by removing trace impurities from the conventional product material. This improves the overall consistency and quality of the biofuel, without the need for conventional high-energy consuming distillation or evaporation techniques.

GENTLE SEPARATION

The separation with PuraMem® membranes is performed at gentle conditions (near-ambient temperature) which maintains the bio-activity of natural components.