Boost for biosurfactants
Locus PI has made important progress with biosurfactants this year . We spoke with the new VP for the EMEA region
Figure 1 – Differences between traditional surfactants , biobased surfactants & biosurfactants
The start of 2022 saw a major step forward for Ohio-based start-up Locus Performance Ingredients ( Locus PI ), when it concluded a global deal for Dow to market its Amphi * and Ferma * lines of sophorolipid biosurfactants into the global home care and personal markets , which account for two thirds of global surfactant demand by volume . New cleaning formulations containing them were launched at SEPAWA in October , including hard and soft surface cleaners and a car wash formula . Another key advance took place in September when the two lines were REACH-registered in the 10-100 tonnes / year band . To drive the European expansion this will enable , the firm has recruited Ronald Lieffering , a near-40-year veteran of the chemicals industry . He joined in July as VP for the EMEA region , based in the Netherlands , and will immediately begin scaling up the EU team . Both Amphi and Ferma are USDAcertified as having 100 % biobased , renewable content . They are produced from a mixture of vegetable oil , usually canola or madhuca , and sugar via a microbial fermentation process . Locus PI claims that its technology
is economically competitive with best-in-class performance and purity , because it can use proven microbes that were hitherto not economically viable , and isolates metabolites and maximises their full genetic expression . The biosurfactants are also non- GMO ; free of palm oil , 1,4-dioxane , ethylene oxide and formaldehyde ; readily biodegradable ; biocompatible ; and both non-irritant and nonsensitising at usage rates . In addition , they are said to be multifunctional and effective as both primary and / or secondary surfactants . Locus PI further claims that they enhance performance at minimal usage rates to keep formulation costs low and reduce formulation complexity . They are said to exhibit low critical micelle concentration and improved surface tension reduction . In addition , they are gentle on skin and can be used in face cleansers where many other surfactants cannot .
From probiotics to personal care
The technology behind Amphi and Ferma is actually based on the company founders ’ expertise in probiotics . Finding that some of their technology worked in the manufacture of biosurfactants as well , they looked further into the process and patented it . Currently , they are working on scale-up with a new fermentation centre in development that will increase biosurfactant production capacity more than threefold . There are many alternatives to traditional petrochemical surfactants , Lieffering notes . These include some that claim to be green but are still essentially chemical-based , plus biological products and those like Locus PI ’ s makes that are 100 % biobased fermentation products with the highest Renewable Carbon Index rating . Amphi and Ferma are essentially blends of lactonic and linear versions , both of which are encompassed in the REACH registrations . This enables formulators to create unique blends to meet their specific needs in a wide variety of applications , the company claims . “ We have been able to separate the lactonic and the linear product from each other and isolate the linear product , leaving us with a mix of the two and another option that is over 90 % linear product . This helps formulators to get them into a ratio in order to achieve certain
38 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981