Our ambition
Redesign the extraction industry using plant-based chemistry technology
Because our company and our collaborators are inspired by the circular economy model, our ambition is to be at the forefront of the decarbonization of our lifestyles to reduce our dependence on petroleum derivatives by developing EcoXtract® technology, a renewable bio-sourced hexane replacement
Through the elimination of petrochemical residues in our food and cosmetics, this game-changing alternative is a major opportunity to build a future that can enable climate recovery, food security, and global health
Our story
Initiated by an intuition, our story continues with passion
2011
The story of EcoXtract technology begins when Norbert Patouillard joined the Minafin group bringing his network and knowledge of the extraction industry. He quickly found out the potential of Ecomeo, a plant-based solvent, as an extraction agent. Ecomeo was until then used as a pharmaceutical synthesis solvent
2013-2016
Guided by Norbert's intuition, Anne Gaëlle Sicaire added Ecomeo to her list of 15 green solvents to be tested as hexane alternatives in oilseeds extraction in her doctoral research in partnership with the University of Avignon and the ITERG in France. The initial hypothesis was confirmed: Ecomeo turned out to be the most effective bio-based solvent among those tested
2017
Laurence Jacques became the Managing Director of the EcoXtract project under the umbrella of the Minafin Group. She started putting up together the expert team in charge of developing the R&D, engineering and partner prospection for Ecomeo
2018
After securing the obtention of IP rights related to the use of Ecomeo in extraction applications, our team started to carry out toxicological research, proof of safety tests and conducted pilot tests to validate the process at larger scale
2020
A 1st industrial-scale plant entered into an industrial partnership with us to validate EcoXtract® process in a plant initially designed for ethanol (ENAT International, Mexico)
2021
New Holland Extraction Ltd (United Kingdom) placed its trust into our solution and adapted its hexane-based plant to be able to run by campaign with Ecomeo as extraction agent
2022
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reported that Ecomeo - the biobased solvent behind the EcoXtract® technology - is safe for processing food. This assessment comes as we obtain confirmed results in the industrial-scale use of this alternative extraction solution to hexane
2023
Ecomeo was approved for food extraction in Europe on January 26, 2023. It is the first 100% plant-derived solvent capable of replacing hexane to be included in Directive 2009/32/EC.
Our partner, Bertin Bretagne, started to develop and market, Cosmos ingredients, extracted with Ecomeo.
Our partner, Exinnov, started the first continuous plant dedicated to water, ethanol and Ecomeo extraction. Minafin decided to refocus on its core business, the production of pharmaceutical ingredients.
2024
At the end of April 2024, Laurence Jacques acquired EcoXtract from Minafin, with the help of private investors to accelerate the technology's scale-up
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Our collaborators
Meet the team
Laurence JACQUES
Chief Executive Officer
Laurence founded EcoXtract within Minafin in 2017. She bought it back with the help of investors in 2024. She brings to the project her 31 years of experience in the industry and her 16 years as an executive. Her vision: to use EcoXtract to free the human food chain from hexane, restoring health to hundreds of millions of people.
Stéphane LARCHÉ
Chief Financial Officer
Bringing 20+ years of experience in the chemical and petrochemical branch, Stéphane is in charge of finance, purchasing and other back-office activities; he manages relations with the various stakeholders
Céline BRET
Marketing and Sales Director
With an experience of 20+ years in R&D, industrial and business interactions, Céline will promote our technology, our brand and our expertise and develop our business interactions with our customers and partners