Ashland has revealed that it is using its Zeta Fraction technology, acquired in 2015, to harvest biologically active complexes of live plants.

Intracellular colloidal dispersion is separated from plants in Ashland’s mobile unit within one hour of harvesting without solvents or added water for immediate processing or frozen storage, then separated into biologically active functions using proprietary technology.

The specialty chemical firm believes that the sustainable process can bring the full potential of plant actives to producers of consumer products. Ashland explained in a press release that the technology utilizes the underexplored potential of live plants and algae to protect the integrity of molecular architecture that exists in living cells. The company is currently studying how these actives could be used in ‘next-generation’ skin care formulations.