ÄIO > Technology
Natural & precision fermentation processes to produce healthier alternatives
We specialize in growing microorganisms capable of producing beneficial fatty acids, antioxidants and pigments. By optimizing our bioprocesses we deliver tailored solutions for many industries.
ÄIO’s production pipeline
1 Raw materials
Raw material: Molasses
Molasses is used as a microbiological energy source in a wide range of fermentation processes. It’s a stable and predictable substrate to store and handle, easy to incorporate into fermentation processes, and cost-effective.
Raw material: Whey
Cheese whey is a rich by-product of the dairy industry that is rich in lactose, proteins, and minerals.
Global whey production exceeds 200 million tons annually. Using it as a base for fermentation processes can reduce the disposal burden on producers.
Raw material: Wood residue
Wood-based residues and co-streams generated by the paper, pulp and wood industries, such as sawdust, are promising source materials for both environmental and economic reasons.
Wood residues do not compete with other food sources in terms of land resources or water and are both traceable and cost-effective.
2 Fermentation
How residue becomes the product
Working with oils is both
science and art.
At ÄIO, we develop next-generation fats and oils using proprietary yeast
fermentation, offering sustainable alternatives to palm, coconut, and animal-
based fats for food, cosmetics, and household applications.
By upcycling local side streams like wood residues and food processing by-
products, we create novel microbial oils that are both functional and traceable.
The hero of our process: ÄIO’s 300L Bioreactor
Our 300L stainless-steel stirred tank bioreactor is the heart of upstream fermentation. Purpose-built for microbial cultures, allows for a variety of cultivation strategies with precise control over feed flow rate, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and agitation.
This level of process control and data acquisition is essential for growing lipid-rich yeast biomass at scale and for obtaining information that translate lab-scale performance into industrially relevant volumes.
3 Harvesting & refinement
Centrifuge:
ÄIO uses advanced separation and cell-processing technologies to efficiently handle fermentation-derived materials and support the recovery of valuable lipids. These technologies provide ÄIO with flexible and scalable processing capabilities, supporting consistent quality across different fermentation-derived lipid ingredients.
Disc-stack centrifugation enables efficient, high-throughput separation while supporting consistent processing and maintaining the integrity of the material.
Tubular centrifugation provides additional flexibility for finer separations and more complex solid-liquid mixtures, allowing different materials and process conditions to be handled while maintaining high quality standards.
High-pressure homogenization enables efficient cell disruption and access to intracellular components, supporting effective lipid recovery while preserving the desired properties and functionality of the resulting ingredients.
Filtration:
ÄIO uses versatile filtration and solid-liquid separation technologies to support efficient downstream processing and consistently high-quality ingredient production. These technologies provide the flexibility needed to develop, optimize and scale high-quality lipid ingredients for different end-use applications.
Press filtration provides flexibility for handling different materials and process conditions, supporting effective separation and helping achieve the desired quality of the resulting products.
Filter reactor technology combines multiple processing capabilities within a single system. Its versatility supports different applications in lipid processing and enables efficient handling and refinement of fermentation-derived ingredients.
Nutsche filtration further expands ÄIO’s downstream processing capabilities by enabling controlled solid-liquid separation and material handling within a closed system. This supports consistent quality, purity and efficient recovery across different applications.
Thrice the product from a single process
Output:
Encapsulated Oil
The filtered ferment passes through the spray dryer, which polishes and converts the product into a dry, stable format, known as our Encapsulated Oil.
This material is ideal for cosmetics and food applications, where handling, shelf life, and controlled release are essential. It also enables us to experiment with advanced delivery formats.
Output:
ZymaLipid
Complex
Once filtered and dryed, powdered ferment can be refined through a combination of mechanical extraction and solid-liquid separation.
The result is a crude substance, which through an additional refining process, becomes the creamy ZymaLipid Complex.
Output:
Red Oil
By refining the crude form of ZymaLipid Complex in a particular way, Red Oil can be produced instead.
Nemailla Bonturi,
PhD
Co-founder and CEO:
“Fermentation”
is not just
a buzzword. It is
a vital tool.”
ÄIO has a strong team of scientists and researchers with over 200 years of combined experience in biotech. 58% of the team hold Master’s degrees and 35% hold PhDs. More about ÄIO
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