Israeli enzyme company Enzymotec has gained a US patent for its AMIET technology (Activation Modification Immobilization Enzyme Technology).
The enzyme modification technology allows enzymes to react in non-aqueous media, under stable conditions. The company first filed for the patent in March 1999.
"This exclusive breakthrough technology has two major advantages for us. First, it allows us to significantly improve quality and cost performance of certain products, and secondly, it gives us the ability to create entirely novel proprietary products," said Dr Sobhi Basheer, developer of AMIET and Enzymotec founder.
AMIET allows a wide range of regular and speciality enzymes to perform in a non-aqueous media, with high activity and recyclability, without losing their specificity, according to the company. It claims that the technology is unique because it can match the right enzyme with a specific matrix, to form a stable and active catalyst, which is applicable either in stirred-vessels or fixed-bed reactors.
The AMIET technology is already implemented in a variety of operating systems on an industrial scale, said Enzymotec. The single-step reactions and recyclability of the enzymes in the process lead to significant cost reductions.
"Enzymotec considers AMIET as its major product development engine for years to come," added Dr Basheer.
Enzymotec recently launched the range of MultOil multi-functional oils, developed using the newly patented technology. The products are derived from any natural oil enriched with phytosterols (25 per cent) and diglycerides or DAG (15 per cent), designed to reduce the risk for coronary heart disease.