Chemicals > Biomolecules > Surfactants

Surfactants are amphiphile molecules that possess emulsifying, softening, wetting or detergent characteristics, depending on their structure. The lipophile group can come from oleochemical raw materials derived from rapeseed, sunflower, palm, or other plants. The hydrophile segment can come from coproducts of the starch or sugar industries (sugarbeets, derivatives of maize or other grain crops). They are used in hygiene products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, detergents and surfacing agents. The European market for surfactants represented 2.3 million tonnes in 2000, of which about 20% were derived from plants. Creating a viable plant-based alternative resource for this sector of production is an ambitious goal, that could represent several thousand hectares of cropland, seeing that roughly 60 000 hectares are needed to produce 100 000 tonnes of plant-based surfactants.

Most of the projects supported by AGRICE pertain to the synthesis of new molecules with surfactant properties using environmentally friendly chemical processes. The molecules that are synthesised have multiple characteristics, simplifying formulation and making the plant-based alternative competitive. Most of the uses envisioned for these new products exploit their high added value; however sectors calling for production in greater volume with less added value have also been explored. Another portfolio of work supported by AGRICE focuses on the development, simplification and optimisation of chemical and microbiological synthesis of plant surfactants.

2005
Synthesis of new non-toxic biodegradable betaines and study of their industrial applications

2004
Contribution of agricultural surfactants to remediation of polluted sites
Development of manufacturing processes and industrial applications for new compounds based on surfactants derived from plants (in particular continental European plants)
Modification of polysaccharides by reducing amination for elaboration of new surfactants and thickeners
Industrial applications linked to anti-adherence qualities of surfaces following adsorption of plant proteins
Preparation and application of a hybrid polyorganosiloxane structure to an oligosaccharide group

2003
New plant-based non-ionic surfactants with improved environmental properties
Functional lipophilic chains of glycerol esters and sorbitan esters: a new generation of surfactant molecules
Environmentally friendly plant-bases emulsifiers for roadway works. Phase two
Anew process for synthesising phytosterol esters, in particular from rapeseed or sunflower methyl esters and from sterols
Segmentation of usages of agricultural surfactants and their potential markets
Synthesis of new amphiphilic agents derived from alcohol and C5, coproducts of ethanol fermentation
Activation and adjustement of an industrial catalyst for testing the synthesis of polyglycerols and polyglycerol esters
Biodeggradable wetting agents from plants as an alternative to ethoxylated alkylphenols
New pathways for catalytic synthesis of sufactants from carbohydrates
Synthesis of "fully green" non-ionic surfactants

2002
New modulable polymeric surfactants
Additives for plant protection based on vegetable oils and surfactants derived from agricultural resources
Demulsifying surfactant formulations based on polyglycerol esters
Cleansing products based on biodegradable and non-toxic surfactants, for the dismantling of oil-drilling platforms

2001
Survey of work aimed at shortening the aliphatic chain of fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty amines and methyl esters of fatty acids using biological pathways
Using proteins and peptides from plants as surfactant additives in degreasing compounds for preparation of surfaces
Environmentally friendly plant-based emulsifiers for roadway works
A new catalytic procedure for preparation of non-ionic surfactants from saccharose
In-depth market analysis for reference materials in the surfactants sector, outlining properties to be obtained in relation to targeted applications
Development of manufacturing processes and applications for new cationic surfactants derived from plants
Synthesis of phytosterol fatty esters from methyl esters for cosmetic and food uses

2000
New environmentally friendly solubility agents obtained from agricultural coproducts
New vegetable-oil surfactants for glyphosate formulation
A new sugar foam crystallisation process for obtaining surfactants from plant raw materials
Synthesis of new surfactants derived from alphahydroxy acids (AHA)
Selective synthesis of polyglycerols and polyglycerol esters
Enzyme production pathways to liposugars

1999
.Development of 100% plant-based three-way surfactants
Esterification and transesterification reactions. Improving the quality of the finished product
Selective oxidation of cellulose used to prepare glucuronic acid oligomers with variable hydrophilic/hydrophobic balances
New surfactants derived from agricultural raw materials
Amphiphilic heteroxylanes: rheo-thickening solutions and gels
Development of industrial applications for new surfactants derived from wheat coproducts
Enzymatic modification of alkylpolyglucoside (APG)

1998
Preparation and formulation of new surfactants derived from sugars
Visco-elastic fractionating fluids based on new surfactants from rapeseed
Surfactant synthesis by microwave activation: long-chain esters and ethers of mono and disaccharides
Migration and fate of vegetable oils as plant protection additives in soil
Esterification and transesterification reactions. Improving the quality of the finished product

1997
Selective esterification and starch reactions in heterogeneous catalysis: synthesis of new surfactant and lubricant molecules
Correlation between chemical structures of modified vegetable oils and the biological activity of active plant-protection substances
Enzyme production pathways and characterisation of new surfactants: esters of sugars and fatty acids
Use of beet pulp to treat heavy-metal effluents
New emulsion agents derived from wheat for cosmetics and agrichemical applications

1996
New plant-based surfactants for producing emulsions and specific media
Polymers for the formulation of non-polluting well-drilling fluids
Amphiphilic biopolymers from plant polysaccharides for inclusion and release of hydrophobic active principles
Simultaneously extracting proteins and reducing sugars for surfactant applications
Synthesis, evaluation and development of new amphiphilics for cosmetics, health products and agrichemicals
New microbial polysaccharides from plant rhizosphere

1995
New microbial polysaccharides from plant rhizosphere
Development of 100% plant-based three-way surfactants
New anionic and cationic flocculation agents derived from plant polymers extracted from wheat bran

1994
Optimised beet-pulp pressing for production of non-food use pectins