Naturex and the University of Avignon have created a joint research laboratory for exploring eco-friendly extraction processes. Known as ORTESA (French acronym for Optimization and Research on Extraction Technologies and Alternative Solvents), the new unit aims at better understanding processes that are relatively new to the industry. The aim is to incorporate sustainability in all the steps that are critical for extraction: choice of the solvent or technologies, utilization of by-products, reduction of unitary operations, and limitation of chemical alteration of botanical extracts.
The research laboratory will be co-headed by Antoine Bily, Naturex R&D director, and Professor Farid Chemat, who is also in charge of a research team at the University of Avignon that investigates innovative technologies for botanical extraction. The laboratory will be fully operational by October of this year.
The French National Research Agency (ANR - Agence Nationale pour la Recherche) has granted funding (300,000 euros over the next 3 years) for the creation of this joint laboratory under the LabCom program.
