Completed in February 2023, the “Esseco Innovation” project was a research and development initiative launched in 2021 to develop new products and technological solutions for two key sectors: oenology and industrial chemicals.
The project was structured around two distinct Implementation Objectives. The first focused on the oenological sector, developing new products for:
- Colour stabilisation and sensory profile enhancement in wines
- Fermentation activation
- Protection against microbial contamination
The second Implementation Objective targeted industrial chemical production, with projects aimed at:
- Process optimisation
- Energy efficiency improvements
Key initiatives included:
- Enhancement of the ammonium bicarbonate production plant, with installation of new control systems and a dedicated CO₂ recovery absorption tower
- Optimisation of sodium hydrosulfite (SHS) production, particularly the separation and purification of the by-product sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate and CO₂ management systems
- Development of a predictive multivariate control system (MPC) to improve process parameter management in complex operations (e.g., distillation and sulphuric acid production)
- Utilisation of excess sulphur dioxide streams in existing plant configurations to increase yield while reducing waste and energy consumption
Through this programme, Esseco has strengthened its innovation capabilities, adopting an industrial approach focused on sustainability, efficiency and resource valorisation across the entire production chain.
