CPM Crown – a division of process equipment and technology supplier CPM Holdings – has developed alcohol-based solvent extraction technology for oilseed processors as an alternative to traditional hexane-based extraction.
CPM Crown said oilseed processors traditionally used hexane-based extraction to remove oil from oilseeds such as soyabeans, canola and sunflower to produce cooking oils, protein meals and ingredients as it was an efficient and cost-effective method.
However, there are health, food safety and environmental concerns due to its neurotoxic, volatile and flammable nature. In February this year, for example, the European Chemicals Agency proposed adding n-hexane to its Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) Candidate List due to its probable serious effects on human health.
CPM Crown said on 21 October that its new Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing product would enable companies to replace solvents in their extraction supply chains, offering processors clean label and organic products.
When used in oil processing, the technology could lead to lighter colour and lower gums content. and In protein concentrate processing, it could lead to a higher protein meal and protein content, lighter colour and a more neutral taste in protein concentrate, Crown added.
“Starting from our company’s foundation of … experience in solvent-based extraction technology – and specifically over 50 years in alcohol-based extraction – our experts spent over five years developing this … technology with … process simulation software, R&D resources and dozens of runs at our … innovation centre,” said Kris Knudson, president of Crown.
The company completed its first sale of a commercial scale facility using Monarc technology in 2025 to Spanish agribusiness Elian Barcelona, a subsidiary of the Viserion Group,
“Monarc is going to allow us to leverage ethanol to unlock new possibilities for product quality,” said Richard Petro, commercial director for Elian Barcelona.
