Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB
Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB

EthaNa® – Piloting the Ethanolic Native Extraction of Peeled Rapeseed

Piloting an innovative process for rapeseed processing

The kick‑off meeting in September 2017 marked the start of the “EthaNa®“ project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Coordinated by Fraunhofer CBP, eleven partners from the industry and research are developing a novel process for the treatment of rapeseed.

In comparison to the established extraction process with hexane solvent, digestion and recovery of the material are carried out with ethanol in the EthaNa® project. This makes it possible to significantly improve the quality of the rapeseed oil and rapeseed concentrate products. In addition, the project also aims to isolate novel recoverable substances that previously could not be obtained from rapeseed, such as secondary plant constituents or protein fractions.

The aim of the three‑year project is to set up a pilot plant at Fraunhofer CBP and to demonstrate the entire process from the peeling of rapeseed and the subsequent digestion to obtaining the oil from the rapeseed kernels. The first process units are scheduled to start operating in autum 2018. The generation of product samples of rapeseed oil and rapeseed concentrate is planned for the end of 2019. Sample quantities (of 100 kg to tons) will initially be used for further investigations and the assessment of the product share in the food and feed industry.

Project information

Project title

EthaNa® – Piloting the Ethanolic Native Extraction of Peeled Rapeseed

 

Project duration

September 2017 – February 2022

 

Project partners

  • Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP, Leuna (Germany) (Coordinator)
  • Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart (Germany)
  • Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Freising (Germany)
  • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Karlsruhe (Germany)
  • Internationale Forschungsgemeinschaft Futtermitteltechnik e.V. (IFF), Braunschweig (Germany)
  • B+B engineering GmbH, Magdeburg (Germany)
  • Anhaltinische Verfahrens- und Anlagentechnik GmbH (ava GmbH), Magdeburg (Germany)
  • Miccra GmbH, Müllheim (Germany)
  • VetterTec GmbH, Kassel (Germany)
  • C. Thywissen GmbH, Neuss (Germany)
  • Technologietransfer und Innovationsförderung (tti) Magdeburg GmbH, Magdeburg (Germany)

Funding

We would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and consumer protection and the Agency of Renewable Resources (FNR) for funding the project “EthaNa®“, promotional reference n° 22400517.