SURFACTANTS
Holiferm ’ s initial focus is on sophorolipids
‣ has significantly invested in lowsalt betaines . Holiferm , a University of Manchester spin-out , plans to set up its first commercial plant at Wallasey . This follows on from the launch of a pilot plant at Sci-Tech Daresbury earlier in the year . It will produce an initial 1,100 tonnes / year for global supply . About 30 new jobs have been created . In the longer term , executive assistant Andrew Hardwick says , the company envisages producing “ quite significantly more than that ”. After the plant is online , which should be in early 2023 , a second larger plant is likely to be established . This may or may not be in the UK and Holiferm will be looking to partner with others to build it . The initial focus is on sophorolipids for existing customers and distributors in the household and personal care markets as drop-in replacements for petrochemical surfactants . These clients include CleanGreen , Starbrands , Azelis and Eurosyn . Holiferm ’ s USP is that , where biosurfactants are usually made via a costly yeast-based batch fermentation process , it has developed a semicontinuous process that enables its products to be made at a competitive price against conventional products . Following further technical refinement , this should come down further still . “ This is a much greener process we have developed ,” Hardwick says . “ We have done some modelling and we are predicting that for each tonne of sophorolipid produced using our process , we will save around three tonnes of CO 2 emissions ” The process uses a naturally occurring yeast found in honey . It does not require genetically modified or pathogenic organisms . “ We ’ re trying to redefine what chemical manufacturing means ,” says managing director Richard Lock . “ There ’ s a great misconception that it has to entail huge power stations and industrial plants , but we use a process that is completely green . We are working with a molecule that has been designed not by humans , but by nature .” The company is also currently working in collaboration with BASF on the next two molecules in its pipeline , using the same fermentation technology . No further details are as yet available about this . Meanwhile , Libra Speciality Chemicals , which makes and blends active ingredients for home and personal care , has invested £ 3.5 million in a new plant to manufacture the new low-salt betaines it has developed . This will also increases the site ’ s total betaine capacity by around two thirds and double the firm ’ s size . Libra , a subsidiary of the GRI Group , claims that these betaines perform better as formulators , while also requiring a third less energy to manufacture using its own manufacturing technology . Certain brands are already working to reformulate products using them and these could be on sale within a year . The AI-powered plant can produce more than 1,000 tonnes / week of betaines and can be operated by a single worker , the company added . GRI CEO Graham Royle called it “ a transformational investment that will help create a new generation of environmentally-friendly , renewable plant-based cleaning products that are sulphate-free , energy-efficient and create zero waste ”. •
34 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981