ACL produces antioxidant from freshwater

Venkatachari Jagannathan
05 June 2002

Chennai: It is touted as the revolutionary natural beta-carotene production technology that is set to break several long-held beliefs in the field of algal biotechnology. The process that is pending patent, developed by Dr NS Venkatesh, director (technical), ACL Chemicals (to be renamed Proalgen Biotech), produces dramatic yields of algae, considered difficult to produce.

Natural beta-carotene has the following commercial applications: (a) protection against cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, arthritis, stress reaction, cataract and other degenerative conditions; (b) dietary supplement; (c) food additive, colourant; and (d) feed additive.

So what is the difference? While the global majors like Henkel-Cognis, Australia, produce this antioxidant from algae cultured in seawater, Venkatesh uses freshwater. And as multinational companies use hundreds of acres Venkatesh's process requires just one-hundredth of that.

"We start our production process with freshwater to cultivate the algae. (The algae strain was found near Chennai.) The freshwater is added with proprietary ingredients to make water saline similar to seawater", says Venkatesh. This process keeps the organisms in water under control.

"The beauty of our innovative production process is its repeatability and the quality consistency", says ACL Chemicals managing director NS Bala Mukundan.

The existing technology, according to Venkatesh, involves seawater concentration, addition of nutrients and biomass maximisation, followed by carotenogenisis. Climatic factors, sunlight, intensity and others also play a significant role in carotenogenesis, which is not under human control.