Plant-Based, Sustainable Raw Materials
As a substrate for our fermentation process we use glucose that is purely derived from plant starch.
Amino Acids
FERMOPURE® – plant-based L-cystine and L-cysteine
Traditionally, the amino acid L-cysteine and its dimer L-cystine have been obtained from animal-based starting materials, such as hair or feathers. WACKER is the first company in the world to produce plant-based L-cystine in a sustainable fermentation process. This patented technique was awarded an environmental prize in 2008, because it uses 96% less hydrochloric acid than is required for the typical chemical extraction from hair and feathers. WACKER’s natural L-cystine and vegan L-cysteine are manufactured with state-of-the-art equipment, resulting in the highest quality. Since 2019 the products are marketed under the trade name FERMOPURE®.
In 2018, production was transferred to the Spanish site Leòn. Here WACKER produces L-cystine in compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and the outstanding quality demands of FSSC 22000, a GFSI-recognized (Global Food Safety Initiative) standard for food safety management systems. WACKER’s fermentation site in León has certificates for both standards to guarantee a superior safety level for our products.
Product Highlights:
- No human or animal sources
- Utmost purity and safety
- Certification to ISO 22000 & ISO 9001
- Vegan and vegetarian
- Kosher and halal-certified
- Renewable raw materials
- Various grades for multiple applications
WACKER’s patented biotechnology process does not use any animal materials and greatly reduces the use of hydrochloric acid in comparison to alternative chemical extraction methods.
Microorganisms
We use a well-characterized safety strain to produce our FERMOPURE® products.
Fermentation
In the fermentation tank, the microorganisms produce L-cysteine from glucose and inorganic trace elements in a continuous stream. The product is released into the broth and directly forms the dimer L-cystine.
Purification
The fermentation broth is purified to yield natural L-cystine.
L-Cystine
L-Cystine is a dimer consisting of two oxidized L-cysteine molecules.
Electrolysis
One more step is required to produce L-cysteine. The dimer L-cystine is reduced by electrolysis into the monomeric L-cysteine.
L-Cysteine
L-Cysteine is one of the 20 natural amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins. Because of its sulfhydryl side chain (- SH), which is unique among the other amino acids, it is highly reactive and forms stable disulfide bridges.
