Genencor Named to R&D Magazine's Top 100 List for New Enzyme Technology that Reduces the Cost of Ethanol Production

2nd Year for Company to Make the Magazine's List of Most Technological Significant Products

15-Jul-2005

Genencor International announced today that it has been selected by R&D Magazine for its list of the Top 100 Technologically Significant Products for 2005. The company was cited for the development of its new STARGEN(TM) enzyme that reduces the number of steps and cost of producing ethanol. Last year, Genencor was part of a team that was also listed for its work on technology for converting biomass to ethanol.

"This new, low energy technology offers the ethanol industry significant added value with fewer processing steps that requires less energy, materials and capital." said Michael V. Arbige, Genencor's senior vice president, Technology. "Genencor is proud to continue the development of technology advances like STARGEN(TM) that will lead to a more sustainable environment and reduce dependence on foreign oil."

Until recently, ethanol plants have cooked grains and other feedstocks with thermostable enzymes to begin the process of converting starch to fermentable sugars and ultimately to ethanol. Genencor's STARGEN(TM) enzymes is made from blends of an alpha amylase and a glucoamylase that converts granular or uncooked starch to fermentable sugars on a continuous basis through a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process. The potential advantages of this new technology include improved productivity, reduced energy consumption, higher ethanol yields and savings on capital expenses by reducing overall unit operations.

"This honor demonstrates Genencor's long standing commitment to provide differentiated products to Grain Processing markets globally by using our discovery, development and commercial capabilities," said Thomas J. Pekich, president of Genencor International.

The complete list of award winners will be revealed in the September issue of R&D Magazine.

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