Kao supplies CRESCENTIS saccharification enzymes to biomass research association
- Supply began to the Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels under an agreement concluded in 2023.
- The research facility is in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture and focuses on producing bioethanol from non‑edible plant biomass.
- Kao’s saccharification enzymes will be used in the second step of a four‑step process to break biomass into sugars before fermentation and distillation.
- Kao plans to produce these saccharification enzymes for customers in Japan and abroad to help reduce industry CO2 emissions and support sustainability.
Agreement and supply
Kao began supplying saccharification enzymes to the Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels under the "Agreement on the Use of Saccharification Enzymes in Bioethanol Production Research Facilities" concluded with the Association in 2023.
Facility and research focus
The Association’s completed research facility in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture conducts research on using non‑edible plant‑based resources as raw material for bioethanol for automotive use.
Process role and outlook
The facility uses a four‑step process: pre‑treatment of biomass; saccharification to break biomass into sugars using Kao’s enzymes; fermentation of sugars to produce ethanol; and distillation/refining of the ethanol. Kao says it has conducted R&D to develop and manufacture its enzymes and plans to produce saccharification enzymes for customers in Japan and abroad, expecting this to help reduce industry CO2 emissions and contribute to a sustainable future.
Source: Kao Chemicals
