What is hexane and why has the global oilseed processing industry relied on it for over seven decades?

Hexane is a petroleum-derived chemical solvent that has been the industry standard since the 1940s. The industry adopted hexane for compelling practical reasons.

Advantages of hexane:

• Extremely efficient at extracting oil with minimal energy requirements
• Cost-effective and readily available
• Enables high-volume processing that helps keep food affordable
• Well-understood technology with established safety protocols
• Allows for nearly complete solvent recovery and recycling

Challenges with hexane:

• Derived from petroleum, raising sustainability concerns
• Requires careful handling due to flammability and vapor concerns
• Creates regulatory and workplace safety considerations
• Prevents “clean label” claims that consumers increasingly prefer
• Environmental impact concerns, despite significant industry improvements

Hexane became the standard because it offered the most economical way to extract oil efficiently. While alternatives like alcohol existed, the energy costs associated with alcohol recovery made them economically unviable at industrial scale – until now. CPM|Crown’s Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™ is a revolutionary,patent-pending, alcohol-based solvent extractiontechnology that is projected to have comparableoperational efficiency to traditional hexane systemswhile delivering significant advantages in safety,environmental impact and consumer appeal.

Rethinking Oilseed Processing: What makes alcohol-based solvents different?

At CPM|Crown, our Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™ technology is helping move the industry forward by offering an alternative to traditional hexane-based extraction with an alcohol-based solvent extraction solution.

Alcohol-based solvents, particularly ethanol, offer several inherent advantages over traditional petroleum-based alternatives:

• Solvent is already present in or used to produce many foods and beverages
• Enables clean-label products that appeal to health-conscious consumers
• Significantly improved worker safety profile
• Reduced environmental impact compared to petroleum derivatives
• Better alignment with sustainability goals
• Renewable source material (ethanol can be produced from plants)
• Facilitates easier permitting of new extraction facilities compared to hexane

Monarc is a proven, patented, alcohol-based solvent extraction process that enables companies to replace current solvents in their extraction supply chains, deliver high-value, clean-label ingredients and products (including organic), create an overall safer working environment and meet sustainability goals – all at the scale and economics of current solvent technology.

Rethinking Oilseed Processing: What makes Monarc technology revolutionary?

At CPM|Crown, our Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™ technology is revolutionizing the industry by offering an alternative to traditional hexane-based extraction with an alcohol-based solvent extraction solution.

Our Monarc Clean Oilseed Process solves the fundamental economic challenge that has prevented alcohol-based extraction from becoming viable at industrial scale for commodity seeds. The breakthrough lies in engineering innovations that dramatically reduce the energy requirements for alcohol recovery, making the process economically competitive with hexane systems.

Key advantages of Monarc technology:

• Scalable: Suitable for both new plant construction and facility upgrades
• Clean label enabled: Allows manufacturers to meet growing consumer demand for clean-label products
• Enhanced employee safety: Eliminates petroleum-based solvent handling concerns
• Environmental benefits: Reduces environmental impact while maintaining efficiency
• Market advantage: Enables premium positioning for health-conscious consumers
• Cost parity: Projected to have comparable operational efficiency to hexane-based systems
• Retrofittable: Existing facilities can be upgraded without complete reconstruction

Monarc is a proven, patented, alcohol-based process that enables companies to replace current solvents in their extraction supply chains, deliver high-value, clean-label ingredients and products (including organic), create an overall safer working environment and meet sustainability goals – all at the scale and economics of current solvent technology.

Rethinking Oilseed Processing: How does Monarc technology impact the food industry?

CPM|Crown's Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™ represents a defining moment in food manufacturinghistory.

Through innovative engineering and deepindustry expertise, the company has achieved whatmany considered impossible: making clean, alcohol-basedoilseed processing economically viable atindustrial scale.

Consumer research consistently shows growing preference for clean-label products – foods made with recognizable, minimally processed ingredients. Until now, producing clean-label products via efficient oilseed processing at scale has not been practical or available. Monarc technology addresses this trade-off.

This opens new market opportunities while maintaining economic efficiency that keeps food affordable and accessible globally.