Danish Novozymes launches enzyme for more efficient biofuel production

Oct 30, 2012 - Danish biotech company Novozymes A/S (CPH:NZYM B) announced today the launch of an enzyme, branded Avantec, which allows biofuel makers to produce 2.5% more ethanol from the same amount of corn.

In the USA, which is the biggest biofuel producer in the world, the main raw material for biofuel is corn. In ethanol production enzymes are used to convert corn starch into sugar, which can then be fermented to ethanol. Avantec is more efficient in starch conversion than other enzymes, Novozymes said.

According to the Danish company, a typical US ethanol plant needs about 900,000 tonnes of feed-grade corn a year to produce some 100 million gallons of ethanol.

In most US ethanol plants the starch conversion level is about 90-95% but this percentage can be further increased, Peder Holk Nielsen, executive vice president at Novozymes, said. If Avantec is introduced at all ethanol plants in the country, the US could save some 3 million tonnes of corn a year, he added.

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