Acidulants, Ethanol, Alcohol and other fermented products
The Tate & Lyle portfolio increasingly including products fermented or hydrgenated from cereal sweeteners, sugars or molasses. For example citric acid is made by fermentation of dextrose, sugar or molasses followed by separation and purification using a range of technologies.
These products include:
• Citric acid used in soft drinks to give tartness and flavour. It is also used as a natural cleaning agent in detergents and household products. The Group's acidulants include citric acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, potassium citrate, calcium citrate and sodium nitrate.
• Potable grain alcohol used in high quality alcoholic drinks. Tate & Lyle is the largest producer in Europe.
• Fuel grade ethanol used as an alternative fuel source with lower greenhouse emissions.
• Biogums (such as xanthan gum) used by the food industry as low calorie fat replacers and stabilisers, and to provide texture and viscosity to sauces and dressings. Biogums help sauces to 'cling' to other foods such as vegetables and meat.
• Polyols including sorbitol used by food and pharmaceutical companies to retain moisture. Sorbitol is often found in toothpaste and chewing gum.
• Aquasta™, a natural source of astaxanthin fermented from dextrose, manufactured in partnership with Igene is used as an essential nutrient for farm-raised fish. Previous nutrients have been chemically derived synthetics as opposed to fermented from cereals. First commissioning started in April 2004, with strong consumer-led demand, including from organic fish farms that will only use our product.
• Textile polymer ingredient Bio-PDO produced by DuPont Tate & Lyle BioProducts and used by DuPont to produce Sorona® polymer. Sorona® polymers are stain and chlorine resistant with great 'stretch and recovery' and are exceptionally soft to the touch. Fibre made of DuPont™ Sorona® polymer is used in a wide range of textile applications from swimwear to carpets. Bio-PDO is produced from renewable resources and replaces petrochemicals, using less energy and producing fewer emissions than synthetic production methods.