B.S.C.

nv
Zwaarveld 41
B-9220 Hamme Papaya’s
Secret
Belgium

Tel +32 (0) 52 470 536

Fax +32 (0) 52 472 664
info@bscbio.be
www.bscBio.be
Historical facts
Hundreds of years ago the globe began to un-
veil its secrets to many explorative missions of
Spanish and Portuguese explorers. One of the
many new plant species that were discovered
was the Carica Papaya.
The papaya trees, it is believed, were originally
native to Mexico and Central America.
Ruwenzori Mountain
Their fast rate of growth and their abundant fruit Most parts of the plant deliver a milky juice with high
encouraged further cultivation in warm tropi-
cal regions from Central and South America to levels of an enzyme called “papain”. Papain has the
Africa, India and Asia.
Later on it became apparent that the very ability to break down proteins which classifies it as a
specific microclimatic conditions prevailing at protease or proteolytic enzyme.
the western foot of the Ruwenzori Mountain in
North Eastern Congo were a contributing factor
to a better growth of papaya trees.
Subsequent studies during the 19th century
expeditions indicated that the local African
population was aware of some beneficial aspects
of the papaya plant. The fruit, tree and leaves all
delivered a milky juice when scratched.
They recognized the tenderizing effect of
papaya latex on meat but also its capacity to heal
wounds and cure gastrointestinal infections.
The development of products
The development of biochemistry together with
enzyme knowledge during the 20th century
opened up new horizons for possible applications
of “papain”, the active component of the latex.
Initially two major products were developed:
- a reliable low-cost chill proofing agent for
the beer industry, which became extremely
popular. Papain cuts the beer proteins which
cause a haze in the beer when it is cooled.
- an efficient meat tenderizer, which became
soon a best seller in North America. Papain cuts
up the collagen structure of the meat.
As research revealed new knowledge about As research revealed new knowledge about papaya
papaya protease, many other applications in the
baking, food, feed and pharmaceutical industry protease, many other applications in the food, feed
were developed.
and pharmaceutical industry were developed.
Only sun or oven dried latex was imported
either by traders in tropical products or directly
by specialist enzyme companies interested in
refining and formulating commercial liquids
and powders.
The extreme variability in the quality of in-
coming latex, the result of climatic changes and
bad preservation, made raw material stability
and cost control unpredictable.
Extensive research backed by “trial and error”
experiments gave birth to a patented in situ
refining process at the foot of the Ruwenzori
Mountains.
A highly active, pure and stable papain powder
was born.
A state of the art refining plant included modern
filtration, concentration and spray drying tech-
niques. A small innovative industry with con-
siderable social impact was born.
About BSC
B.S.C. nv originally known as Blue Star
Chemicals, was founded by reputed Belgian
university researchers who had successfully
developed chill proofing aids as well as beer-
friendly foam stabilizers for the brewing indus-
try at the Hamme (Belgium) plant.
A new management team, with a strong focus
on worldwide marketing of the existing
product range such as Cristalase, Cristalfoam
and Refined Papain, took over at the end of
2002
New improved papaya enzyme formulations
with high protein concentration were developed.
High performance, highly active liquids with
outstanding stability were then introduced for
the food ingredient market .
Unique long standing knowledge
The B.S.C. team has acquired unique and unpre-
cedented knowledge on papaya culture, on latex
collection as well as on full processing techniques.
This expertise was accumulated since the early 70’s
through pioneering revolutionary in situ refining
and through long-standing protease experience.
Continuous collaboration and research by univer-
sity-level specialists including ongoing in-house
development programs are the prerequisites for
delivering total service capability to the multiple
application area of our products.
Extensive experience with papaya plantations and
full support to local technical development through
collaborative studies and constant direct informa-
tion exchange, allow B.S.C. to maintain its lead in
this sector.
FOCUS ON PRODUCT AND SYSTEM
QUALITY
B.S.C. is an ISO 9001-2008 certified company
which aims to provide products and services of
the highest level of quality.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control
Points) has been fully implemented and is
under permanent review through regular
reporting and external auditing by accredited
professionals.
Full traceability has been worked out for the
complete range of products.
The B.S.C. food safety programme includes
management of allergens in their products.
B.S.C is committed to the use of stricktly non-
GMO raw materials in their production.
B.S.C. provides papain products which are certi-
fied Kosher by the Orthodox Union in New York.
Halal-certification is possible on demand.
Analyses on microbiology and protease activity
are constantly performed on a batch to batch basis.
Working closely with the world of food and
beverage, some specific determinations on
PCB’s, heavy metals and pesticides are regularly
outsourced and communicated to users.

Precise calibration of protease activity in accor-

dance with internationally recognized laboratory
protocols are performed daily on reliable synthetic
or natural substrates. Accurate information on the
correlation factors between several internation-
ally recognized test methods, including those de-
veloped by customer laboratories, is an important
asset which facilitates worldwide communication.
Specific projects may include in-depth exchange
of proprietary information with customers. We
guarantee confidential content.
social impact
UNPRECEDENTED SOCIAL IMPACT
The plantation maintenance work and the
labour intensive papaya bleeding, involve thou-
sands of indigenous farmers on the fields. This
provides a basic income to many families in
Central Africa.
In situ refining of papaya latex leads to
extensive on-the-job skill development and
provides the local population with considerable
knowledge on process techniques such as in-
dustrial refrigeration, filtration,
pumping, spray drying, quality
control and hygiene.
The educational impact of this
remote acti-vity has been evoked
on many occasions as a unique
example of high added value de-
velopment project in that part of
the World.
BREAKTHROUGH SUSTAINABILITY
It has been widely recognized that enzymes in
general contribute largely towards sustainable
growth through minimal environmental impact.
Their catalytic action allows for more
efficient processing, better products, better pres-
ervation, improved production yields and lower
energy consumption for many an industry.
This is certainly true with B.S.C.‘s vegetable
papaya proteases.
Papaya trees are growing fast. When planted in
the ideal microclimatic conditions, a seed will
give birth to an adult tree bearing fruits ready for
the first latex bleeding, in less than 12 months.
This very short cycle permits a quick
response to new market conditions when novel
applications come up.
The B.S.C. proteases of papaya latex have
helped to improve process efficiency by
reducing temperatures and reaction time. They
are also valuable alternatives for acids and oth-
er various aggressive chemicals in existing and
new hydrolytic systems.
Reducing toxicity risks in the food, feed,
beverage and pharmaceutical industries is
another tremendous advantage which will
most probably be the leading factor for
substantial future growth for papaya enzyme
applications.
B.S.C.’s formulations are totally biode-
gradable and therefore have no impact on the
environment.
B.S.C.’s papain in action
A tremendous volume of applications have
been developed since ancestral observations of
African papaya knowledge.
They fall under the following headings :
Baking
Papaya proteases improve the dough proper-
ties and the caractistics of baked biscuits and
crackers.
Protein digests and
hydrolysates
Papaya proteases allow for efficient vegetal and
animal protein breakdown and reduce the use
of chemicals and energy while improving total
peptide recuperation.
The hydrolytic action of papain on slaughter of-
fal, fish waste and bones allows for valuable ex-
traction of essential components with food/feed
and pharmaceutical industry end users.
Pharmaceuticals
Oral enzyme formulations have been proven to
stimulate gastric transfer and digestion in gen-
eral.
Cocktails of enzymes involving papain activi-
ties have been recognized for their anti-inflam-
matory action providing pain relief for joint/ar-
thritis related deficiencies.
Papain enzyme in combination with other pro-
teases have been recognized for their additional
beneficial properties in restoring immune sys-
tems during cancer treatment (oncology).
Contact lens care products include papain pro-
tease for protein clearing properties.
Popular ointment products based on papain
improve healing through defibrinating wounds
A tremendous volume of applications have been
developed since the ancestral observations of
African papaya knowledge were first revealed.
Peptone manufacturing Brewing
Oral enzyme formulations have been Peptones The enzyme breaks down the highly reac-
from vegetal and animal origin are common- tive proteins which prevent them to bind with
place in microbiology where they serve as polyphenols.
growth media for bacterial analysis. This results in a perfect crystal clear glass of
beer without affecting organoleptic properties.
Pet food This is called “chill proofing”.
B.S.C.’s papain formulations reduce viscosity
of protein mass allowing for easy spray on dry
Promising future
type of pet food. The vegetal origin of the papaya enzyme helps
At the same time they offer improved pala- drive continued strong interest for new safe
tability and acceptability of pet food to cats and
food applications.
dogs improving their nutritional well-being. At B.S.C. a considerable amount of R&D work
is ongoing. B.S.C. endeavours to provide valu-
Cosmetics able support to its market partners through the
Common skin care specialists include papaya efficient communication of acquired know-
enzyme dilutions in skin peeling treatments. how.
At B.S.C. we are very confident that this will
lead to new contributions to the protein indus-
try resulting in healthier and more exciting new
food and feed products.
Full Papain enzyme range
B.S.C. has the expertise and capability to
produce a wide range of powder and liquid
standardized papain formulations.
Powders would typically be delivered diluted
from a few TU/mg up to a very high undiluted
700/800 TU/mg protease activity.
B.S.C.’s product range
Common USP compliant activities are delivered
from 6.000 USP/mg units over 30.000 USP/mg
up to 48.000 USP/mg and higher.
FIP (Federation of International Pharmacopeia)
conform activities would reach up to 5 FIP U/mg
for undiluted powders.
Liquids are formulated from a few TU/mg up to
a maximum activity of 200 TU/mg.
Any papain formulation can be supplied under
private labels following customer-developed
recipes and packaging.
Products are delivered with a certificate of
analysis.
CRISTALASE
Is a liquid preparation of purified papain
stabilized with sorbitol (or glycerol).
It is available in following standard proteolytic
activities :
3.600 USP U/mg (60 TU/mg)
4.800 USP U/mg (80 TU/mg)
5.600 USP U/mg (94 TU/mg)
6.000 USP U/mg (100 TU/mg)
12.000 USP U/mg (200 TU/mg)
Other activities can be supplied on demand.
Technical Data Sheets (TDS) and Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available on
request.
Refined Papain
..... is a powder product based on spray dried
papain.
It is available at a range of activities from less
than 6.000 USP/mg (100 TU/mg) over 10.000,
30.000 up to 75.000 USP/mg (+/- 1.200 TU/mg).
TDS and SDS are available on request.
Packaging : 10 kg cardboard box + 25/30/35/50kg
fibre drums.
Other packaging is available on request.

Packaging: 6 kg jerry cans + 25 kg jerry cans +

250 kg HDPE drums + 1.200 kgs Intermediate
Bulk Containers (IBC’s).
 Finland
Norway

Customer first Contact Ireland Danmark

Sweden

United Kingdom
Netherlands

B.S.C.’s total quality concept includes the pri- B.S.C. nv

Germany
Belgium

mary objective of getting as close as possible to Zwaarveld 41

absolute customer satisfaction. B-9220 Hamme France Austria
Switserland

With sales being geared to nearly 95 % export Belgium Italy

to all continents, very specific personal care to

Portugal

Tel +32 (0) 52 470 536

Spain ANTWERP
each individual customer is required.
Fax +32 (0) 52 472 664
info@bscbio.be
B.S.C.’s staff feels at ease in a multicultural
www.bscbio.be GHENT
environment and this contributes greatly to Hamme
a fast and accurate understanding of the user
requirements.
The tremendous differences that sometimes
exist in mentality between industries, genera-
tions, cultures etc. have never led us to compro-
mise on service. BRUSSELS

Proactive thinking is an attitude that stretches

from sales through to the production floor.
Customer satisfaction ratios, calculated
according to several basic performance crite-
ria, are part of our quality system. They have
recently increased from a general score of
8,5/10 to 9/10.