| April 1, 2009 |
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BioExx Produces Superior Protein Isolates and Hydrolyzed Protein Concentrates From Canola
Highlights
- BioExx now has proven its ability to produce Protein Isolates
- Despite economic uncertainty, proteins remain in high demand on global scale
- Independent testing shows BioExx proteins are superior across a range of metrics
- Ideal for uses as an additive in foods, sports drinks, juices, and infant formulas
- Represents significant economic upside versus existing product mix
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TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 1, 2009) - Bio-Extraction Inc. (TSX VENTURE:BXI) ("BioExx" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has successfully produced at pilot scale a very unique and high-value canola protein isolate ("ISOLEXX(TM)") and hydrolyzed protein concentrate ("VITALEXX(TM)"). Third-party product testing suggests that ISOLEXX(TM) is superior across a range of parameters when compared to soy protein isolates which currently dominate the vegetable protein market. In fact, on particular metrics, ISOLEXX(TM) compares favourably with whey protein isolates, which are dominant at the high end of the isolate market.
Characteristics of ISOLEXX(TM), as tested, include:
- Protein Purity of 92.8%.
- Strong nutritional profile, comparing favourably to soy, casein (cow's milk), and other high-end protein sources.
- Excellent amino acid profile, being balanced and capable of providing adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids.
- Possessive of higher levels of key amino acids such as valine, methionine, leucine and isoleucine, which are important in muscle building, and threonine which is important for brain activity, as well as the sulphur-containing amino acids cysteine and methionine which are known to have powerful anti-oxidant properties.
- Excellent solubility, which increases the bio-availability (i.e. the body's ability to absorb and utilize a protein), and also provides an indicator of the ability of the product to dissolve in various liquids under various conditions.
- Very low levels of anti-nutritional factors, especially as compared to soy, which inhibit the body's ability to benefit from the available proteins.
- Low in fat, carbohydrates, sugar, salt, calories, gluten free, lactose free, non-allergenic.
- Excellent functional properties, including emulsifying, foaming and foam stability, gel formation and firmness, water immobilization, and water binding - generally better than soy protein isolate and in some cases superior to eggs and to whey protein isolate.
- Clean/bland taste, with no discernable odor often associated with vegetable proteins.
Potential product uses include nutritional beverages, nutritional supplements, infant formulas, meat products and meat substitutes, baked goods, sauces and creams, confectionaries, milk and egg replacers, laundry detergents, conditioning shampoos, hand creams, and skin cleansers.
BioExx has also developed and produced, at lab scale, Hydrolyzed Protein Concentrates ("VITALEXX(TM)"), at a purity of 88.8%. As part of the same production process, protein molecules are separated into two groups, those which are water soluble at alkaline pH and those which are water insoluble at alkaline pH. Water soluble proteins are produced into isolates, while water insoluble proteins are produced into VITALEXX(TM) by hydrolyzing the proteins into amino acids and peptides. VITALEXX(TM) shows high solubility across wide pH range, from acidic to neutral to alkaline conditions, as well as excellent digestibility. It is expected to be a particularly suitable ingredient for infant formula, and nutritional beverages such as protein fortified soft drinks, fruit juices, sports drinks and other protein enhanced beverages.
"We are very pleased to be able to share this watershed news today. Although we still have work to do in regulatory matters and to optimize the product for selected applications, we now have a clear path to the delivery of these two unique, superior, and very high value products to our market", said Chris Carl, BioExx CEO. "This materially changes the economic landscape of the BioExx business. The ability to produce superior quality Isolates and HPC's from the same feedstock that at present is used primarily to produce oil and animal feeds represents a quantum leap in the food value obtained from a pre-exiting agricultural crop. To have proven that this is now viable at a pilot scale, with a commercial scale facility already in its initial stages represents a stage of development which only BioExx has been able to achieve."
These results also underscore the strong commitment BioExx has made in R&D led by its VP Business Development Samah Garringer, its Director of R&D Laurence Parslow, and its team of third party experts including POS Pilot Plant in Saskatoon and the Feeds Innovation Institute at University of Saskatchewan. Additional product testing was also completed at the University of Alberta, EUROFINS Scientific, and the German Institute for Food Technology.
The superior BioExx protein products have their origins in the unique low-temperature and patented BioExx oil extraction technology, which avoids negative changes in the properties of the proteins that are typically caused in traditional, higher temperature oil extraction processes. This results in an "improved starting point" to separate proteins from the meal that remains after the oil extraction. This has helped facilitate the development of a unique and simplified process for protein separation, and also results in very unique canola proteins.
This simplified approach and much improved process and products are the subject of a U.S. patent-pending, as filed in May, 2008. The BioExx process and products have been subjected to extensive third-party scientific and legal review and scrutiny, including a detailed review of relevant and published prior art.
BioExx intends to produce these two products at all of its production facilities, beginning in early 2011, including its 40,000 MT per year Saskatoon facility. Leading up to that date, BioExx will work with its major protein customer, Helm AG, as well as end users and other potential customers to optimize the products for their highest-and-best-use applications. In addition, BioExx will work towards GRAS standing with the US FDA (and equivalent authorities in Canada and the EU), to facilitate the use of ISOLEXX(TM) and VITALEXX(TM) as food ingredients.
"We have completed a battery of tests on the BioExx canola protein isolate and believe it is a very good and unique product", said Mr. Thomas Arnold, Executive Director Nutrition of Helm AG. "We look forward to working with BioExx and our customers to conduct further studies to tailor the product for our targeted high-value applications, and ultimately to delivering a very strong product which is in great demand in the markets we serve."
Early production yield estimates suggest BioExx would produce approximately 60 kg of CPI and 120 kg of HPC for each metric tonne of canola seed processed. Current market pricing is found in the range of $6,000 - $8,000 per metric tonne for CPI and $4,000 - $6,000 per metric tonne for HPC's. At the low end of this price range, this represents potential additional and incremental revenue from proteins at the 40,000 MT per year Saskatoon facility of approximately $25 million per year, versus feed-grade protein concentrate products.
About Bio-Extraction Inc.
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, BioExx is a leading technology company focused on the extraction of oil and high-value proteins from oilseeds for the global food market. BioExx' patented technology allows for the use of significantly lower temperatures than conventional methods in extracting the active ingredients and oils from oilseeds, resulting in higher yields and higher-quality meal, oils and proteins. BioExx' low energy requirements, environmentally sound process, and high-yield production have the potential to make a valuable contribution in alleviating food scarcity. BioExx operates a commercial scale extraction facility in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and has a mission to construct additional and larger processing facilities on a global basis. To find out more about Bio-Extraction Inc. (TSX VENTURE:BXI), please visit www.bioexx.com.
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