N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker got a close-up look at the world of enzymes, fermentation, and advanced biofuels when she toured the Novozymes facility in Franklinton earlier this month.
The company tests and manufactures enzymes that end up on products in more than 30 industries, including food/beverages, detergents, agriculture, paper, bioenergy, textiles, baking and many more. The use of enzymes in the manufacturing process of everyday products helps to reduce the use of energy, water and raw materials, as well as reduce the resulting waste stream and increase overall yields.
Novozymes Americas President Adam Monroe explained the fermentation process and how the company produces enzymes. Decker even tried her hand at mixing enzymes with corn mash to see how quickly the enzymes turn starch solids into liquid sugars.
“It was fascinating to see how enzymes work and how quickly they speed up chemical reactions,” said Decker. “I was most interested to learn about how enzymes are used to produce biofuels and that these tiny microorganisms have the potential to solve some of our most pressing economic and environmental challenges.”
The company’s Power Garden contains four types of crops that are grown to make advanced biofuels, including corn, sugarcane, switchgrass and miscanthus.
In addition to the Power Garden and the fermentation control room, Decker toured the starch lab, baking lab, biomass wet lab, and detergents lab. In Franklin County, Novozymes employs more than 525 people at its North American headquarters, which is also the country’s largest multi-purpose enzyme manufacturing facility.