Kao explores algae potential

SCIENTISTS at Kao Corporation involved in algae research have succeeded in finding an enzyme that can produce a large number of medium chain fatty acids ? the main components of natural fats and oils (e.g. palm kernel oils and coconut oils) that are raw materials for surfactants in detergents, shampoos and other related products. The findings, presented at the 1st Asian Conference on Oleo Science, could lead to a sustainable, non-edible raw material source of fats and oils.

Through research activity on biotechnologies, which evolved from technologies involving enzymes for detergents, the scientists found some algae strains that contained a large number of C12 medium chain fatty acids in C12 to 14 medium chain fatty acids. Additionally, as a first in the field of algae, the company identified a novel acyl-ACP thioesterase with high specificity to medium chain fatty acids from the genus Nannochloropsis. 

In line with its commitment to contribute to the sustainability of society, Kao said it would pursue the development for the production of fats and oils from algae with the aim of technical production,. The company expects that these findings will dramatically accelerate the breeding development of algae for large-scale production of medium chain fatty acids.

The potential for algae to produce fats and oils is more than ten times that of such natural resources as palm, other studies have reported. Previous studies have reported successful production of fats and oils containing C16 to 18 fatty acids as a main component to acquire new raw materials for biofuels, but this is the first instance of biosynthesis of C12 to 14 medium chain fatty acids, as presented at the conference organized by the Japan Oil Chemists' Society from September 8-10, 2014 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.