Sustainable Fatty Acid Production Novonesis, Thyssenkrupp Uhde Launch Enzymatic Fat-Splitting Process

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With an aim to slash energy consumption, improve production flexibility, and enhance overall process efficiency for the producers, Novonesis and Thyssenkrupp Uhde have launched an enzymatic fat-splitting process for scalable and more sustainable fatty acid production.

Copenhagen/Denmark – Fatty‑acid producers have long faced pressure as shifting market demands collide with the long lead times and high Capex of conventional thermal fat‑splitting towers. To address these challenges, Novonesis and Thyssenkrupp Uhde are jointly launching an enzymatic fat-splitting process using the Novonesis Lipura Split enzyme. This collaboration redefines fatty acid production, enabling producers to significantly reduce energy consumption, improve production flexibility, and enhance overall process efficiency. Compared to conventional splitting at 260°C and 60 bar pressure, the gentler enzymatic process runs at 70°C and atmospheric pressure.

From lab to plant

This new approach to fat-splitting is designed for safe and scalable implementation, supported by a dedicated pilot plant that allows producers to validate performance under real-world conditions.

The pilot facility serves as a critical bridge between laboratory innovation and full-scale industrial deployment, ensuring that producers can confidently transition to more sustainable and cost-effective operations.

“Our partnership with Novonesis demonstrates the power of collaboration to shape a more sustainable future. This joint innovation enables our customers to achieve economic gains while advancing their environmental goals,” says Nadja Håkansson, Member of the Executive Board / COO Thyssenkrupp Decarbon Technologies & CEO Thyssenkrupp Uhde.

A more efficient path forward

The Novonesis-Uhde process is adaptable to both existing operations and new capacity plants. The solution can cut capital expenditure (Capex) by up to 60 %, shorten time to market and scale production from 50 TPD to help producers navigate changing market needs.

“With this collaboration, we make it simpler for customers to move from conventional fat splitting to an enzymatic alternative – one built for a dynamic landscape of rising energy costs, evolving sustainability standards, and increasing pressure for production flexibility. This shift not only benefits fatty-acid producers' agility and profitability, it also paves the way toward a more sustainable future for the oleochemicals industry,” says Hans Ole-Klingenberg, Vice President, Global Marketing, Household & Industrial Biosolutions, Novonesis.

Enzymatic fat-splitting delivers measurable impact

• Reduces Capex by up to 60 %

• Scale from just 50 TPD with a simple, low-investment setup

• Use up to 40 % less energy due to lower operating temperatures

• Use up to 40 % less water: less water reduces energy demand during evaporation

• Boost yield by up to 2 %: the gentler process minimizes reactions that lead to yield loss

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