Visionary Fiber Technologies (VFT) will present eight technical sessions at the AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana, May 3–6, 2026.
At this year’s meeting, VFT will showcase how fiber reactor-based microfluidic systems support scalable processing across edible oil refining, cocoa butter improvement, enzymatic processing, carbon capture, and byproduct valorization. Across these presentations, a common theme emerges: controlled micro-scale interfaces can improve mass transfer, reduce energy demand, and unlock higher-value process outcomes.
Visit VFT at AOCS 2026
VFT’s presentations will highlight applications of its fiber reactor platform in:
- edible oil deacidification
- cocoa butter crystallization improvement
- immobilized enzyme reactor design
- carbon dioxide sequestration
- whey valorization
- yield recovery from FFA, MAG, and DAG streams
VFT Technical Presentations at AOCS 2026
Monday, May 4, 2026
Immobilized Carbonic Anhydrase Fiber Reactor for CO₂ Sequestration
Time: 2:15–2:35 PM
Room: Strand 10
Presenter: Leslie M. Wood, MSc
This presentation will discuss the use of immobilized carbonic anhydrase in fiber reactors to accelerate CO₂ hydration and support lower-energy carbon capture through improved gas-liquid mass transfer.
Deacidification of High-Acidity Edible Oils
Time: 3:55–4:15 PM
Room: Empire C
Presenter: Peter Eckert, PhD
This session will show how fiber reactor-based microfluidics can suppress emulsification during caustic refining, enabling effective free fatty acid removal while maintaining product quality and improving process stability.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Electrolytic Fiber Reactor for Valorization of Whey
Time: 4:15–4:35 PM
Room: Strand 12
Presenter: Leslie M. Wood, MSc
This presentation will highlight a continuous electrolytic fiber reactor approach for converting lactose to lactulose with improved yield and scalability.
BCI Improvement of Cocoa Butter (Low Temperature Process)
Time: 9:15–9:35 AM
Room: Bolden 4
Presenter: Scott Kohl, PhD
This session will cover microfluidic processing for near-complete free fatty acid removal from cocoa butter, improving Bühler Crystallization Index (BCI) under low-temperature conditions.
Immobilized Enzyme Fiber Reactor for Food Stuffs
Time: 9:35–9:55 AM
Room: Strand 10
Presenter: Leslie M. Wood, MSc
This presentation will explore a fiber-based immobilized enzyme reactor using micron-scale metallic packing to increase surface area, improve enzyme stability, and support continuous processing.
Scalable Microfluidics for Industrial Deacidification
Time: 10:55–11:15 AM
Room: Empire C
Presenter: Oluwaseyi Ayeni, PhD
This session will present industrial-scale microfluidic deacidification results, including throughput above 0.1 MT/h and free fatty acid removal above 80%, demonstrating the platform’s potential for commercial refining applications.
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Rehabilitation of High DAG Cocoa Butter
Time: 8:55–9:15 AM
Room: Foster 1
Presenter: Scott Kohl, PhD
This presentation will focus on removing DAG and FFA degradation products from cocoa butter to restore crystallization behavior and improve commercial usability.
Enzymatic TAG Creation from FFA Streams
Time: 9:15–9:35 AM
Room: Foster 1
Presenter: Scott Kohl, PhD
This session will discuss enzymatic conversion pathways for transforming FFA, MAG, and DAG into TAG-rich streams to improve yield recovery and reduce refining losses.
VFT to Sponsor Processing Division Reception
VFT is also proud to sponsor the Processing Division Reception at AOCS 2026.
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Time: 6:00–7:15 PM
Attendees are invited to connect with the VFT team and continue technical discussions with industry peers in an informal setting.
One Platform, Multiple Processing Solutions
VFT’s AOCS 2026 program reflects the versatility of its fiber reactor platform across multiple processing challenges. From deacidification and crystallization control to enzymatic conversion and carbon capture, these presentations demonstrate how microfluidic and fiber-based reactor design can enable more efficient, scalable industrial processes.
Connect With Visionary Fiber Technologies at AOCS 2026
If you will be attending AOCS 2026, we invite you to attend our sessions, join us at the Processing Division Reception, and connect with our team to discuss your processing goals.