Cultivation to specification

Control begins in cultivation.

From enclosed glass-greenhouse raceways to powder, oil and microencapsulated grades, HETCHYN manages the production variables that shape ingredient specifications.

Glass-greenhouse cultivation
Two extraction routes
Three ingredient formats
Specification-led production

Review ingredient formats

Orange microalgae cultures maintained in HETCHYN laboratory flasks — Culture development

Stainless-steel processing equipment at HETCHYN — Connected processing

66.7 ha*planned operating footprint

*1,000 mu · fully delivered by the end of 2027

2oil extraction routes

Ethyl acetate + supercritical CO₂

3commercial ingredient formats

Powder, oil + microencapsulated powder

1connected production chain

Cultivation through batch documentation

HETCHYN scientist monitors controlled algae culture columns

Controlled culture development and monitoring

Controlled cultivation

Control the culture before you standardise the ingredient.

Enclosed raceways provide physical separation from open-air cultivation and give the operating team a defined environment for managing the culture. That control starts upstream, before concentration, drying or extraction.

01Light

02Temperature

03Salinity

04Nutrients

05Water circulation

06Physical isolation

Connected production routes

One biological source. Three commercial formats.

The shared upstream process creates Dunaliella powder. From there, the route branches according to the delivery system the customer needs.

01Starting pointGlass-greenhouse cultivation

02ConcentrationCentrifugal separation

03DryingDunaliella powder

Direct formatPowderSpray-dried or freeze-dried whole-algae ingredient ExtractionOilEthyl acetate or supercritical CO₂ extraction Further processingMicroencapsulated powderOil, emulsification and microencapsulation

Extraction choice

Choose the route by the required specification.

Both routes produce oil-soluble natural beta-carotene ingredients. Their concentration ranges and residual-solvent profiles are different.

REEthyl acetate extraction

Concentration flexibility up to 30%.

Fixed grades: 10% · 20% · 30%
Custom range: 1–30%
Total residual solvents: ≤20 ppm

View RE specifications

SESupercritical CO₂ extraction

A route with no residual extraction solvent.

Fixed grades: 5% · 10% · 20%
Custom range: 0–20%
Residual extraction solvent: None

View SE specifications

Technology to specification

Production choices become measurable requirements.

For a B2B ingredient buyer, the useful result of process control is a product code with clear release criteria and batch-level documentation.

Review our quality approach

Powder-specific controlDunaliella salina powder total arsenic control.

Representative batches can be below 0.5 ppm total arsenic, with the result reported against the selected batch and COA.

Cultivation control

A more consistent biological starting point

Greenhouse raceways allow the operating team to manage the culture variables that influence biomass quality before harvest.

Route selection

A defined potency and solvent profile

The selected drying or extraction route determines the available ingredient format, concentration range and residual-solvent requirement.

Standardisation

Fixed grades and practical custom ranges

Standard and custom potency options let product teams match the ingredient to a dosage form instead of forcing one grade into every application.

Batch release

Requirements connected to batch evidence

The Product Specification defines release requirements; the COA reports the actual batch result; the SDS supports safe handling.

Production evidence

See the infrastructure behind the route.

Real cultivation and downstream operations connect the process map to physical production.

HETCHYN glass-greenhouse raceway cultivation pools — **Raceway cultivation**Monitored culture conditions inside the glass greenhouse.

HETCHYN technicians monitor industrial separation equipment — **Centrifugal concentration**Harvesting and biomass concentration before drying.

Powder discharge from spray-drying equipment at HETCHYN — **Powder finishing**Drying and finished powder handling.

Applied algae leadership

From cultivation invention to applied microalgae science.

HETCHYN's technology platform brings founder-led Dunaliella cultivation expertise together with long-term academic research in microalgae and high-value biological compounds.

Founder & CEO

Dr. Nancy Xu

Dr. Nancy Xu is a leading expert in Dunaliella salina cultivation and commercial natural carotenoids. She is named as an inventor on multiple international patent records covering Dunaliella production and related algal technologies.

Controlled cultivation9-cis beta-carotenePatent inventor

LinkedIn profile

Chief Scientist

Professor Patricia Harvey

Professor Patricia Harvey is HETCHYN's Chief Scientist and Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Greenwich. Her work spans microalgae, biorefineries and sustainable production of high-value compounds.

Microalgae researchBiorefineriesHigh-value compounds

Explore HETCHYN research

Resource efficiency

Water stays in the cultivation loop.

The cultivation system is designed around zero liquid discharge. Cultivation water is recovered and reused, while photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide into algal biomass.

Zero liquid discharge design
Cultivation water recovery and reuse
Carbon converted into biomass during growth

HETCHYN cultivation water recovery filtration system

Closed-loop water recovery and filtration

Talk to our ingredient team

Match a production route to your target specification.

Share your application, target potency and market. We will help identify the most suitable starting grade.

Start an inquiry