Renewable base oil producer Novvi secures Denison HFO approval

Novvi LLC announced that it has secured Denison HF-0, HF-1, and HF-2 approval on hydraulic oil using Novvi’s NovaSpec EL34 base oil, an industry first in the renewable base oil space.

“From the very beginning of the molecular design of NovaSpec base oil and the formulation of our hydraulic fluid, the Denison HF-0 was a key target,“ said Paula Vettel, director of Formulations at Novvi.

“Our customers wanted a product that met the most challenging industry standards, delivering both performance and environmental standards of renewability, biodegradability, and toxicity,” she said.

Securing a Denison HF-0 approval, together with NovaSpec EL34’s position on the EU ECOLABEL Lubricants Substances Classification (LuSC) list, is a first of its kind, according to Novi.

Novvi’s NovaSpec EL34 customers can use the base oil to meet Denison HF-0, as well as meet ECOLABEL requirements along with other environmental specifications such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Vessel General Permit (VGP).

“We are proud of the collaborative effort between ourselves and our additive partners,” Vettel said. “We brought our NovaSpec base oils and our understanding of how to formulate with it, and delivered what our customers view as an important approval to gaining business around the world.”

Typically, base oils used to meet the EU ECOLABEL are based on various types of natural and synthetic esters. But those esters are prone to breakdown in the demanding conditions that Denison requires to pass its T6H20C pump and bench tests for HF-0 certification.

Novvi has made its base oil available to its customers as well as rebrand opportunities for its proprietary formulations. Customers have already begun to secure rebrand approvals from Denison.

Emeryville, Calif., U.S.A.-based Novvi LLC, a market leader in renewable oils from plant sugar (farnesene), is owned jointly by Amyris, Inc., American Refining Group, Inc., Chevron USA, Cosan S.A. Industria e Comercio, and Hansen & Rosenthal Group.