Biosurfactants Products

Alfa Chemistry supplies biosurfactants including but not limited to the followings:

Rhamnolipid
CAS No.	869062-42-0
Catalog	BBC869062420
Biological source	Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Appearance	Solid/granular
Applications	Rhamnolipids (RLs) can be used in cosmeceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, environmental bioremediation, the petroleum industry, food and beverage processing, agriculture and horticulture, etc.
More Details	Rhamnolipids (RLs) are surface-active compounds and belong to the class of glycolipid biosurfactants, mainly produced from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They have two moieties: Rhamnose (also known as glycon part) and lipid (also known as aglycon part). Rhamnose moiety is hydrophilic in nature comprising of mono or di (L)-rhamnose molecules which are linked together through α-1,2-glycosidic linkage. The lipid moiety is hydrophobic in nature and comprises of one or more saturated / unsaturated β-hydroxy fatty acids chains of C8−C24 lengths, linked together with an ester bond.

Trehalose
Catalog	BBC201858
Biological source	Rhodococcus erythropolis, Nocardia erythropolis
Appearance	White to off-white powder
Applications	There is a growing interest in the use of trehalose in solid dosage formulations, most notably in quick-dissolving tablets. Furthermore, trehalose has found its use in several food and cosmetic products.
More Details	Trehalose is a nonreducing disaccharide that accumulates in bacteria, algae, fungi, yeast, invertebrates, and some resurrection plants. Trehalose contains two glucose units that are linked by α, α-1, and 1-glycosidic bonds.

Lactonic Sophorolipid
CAS No.	148409-20-5
Catalog	BBC148409205
Biological source	Torulopsis bombicola, Candida bigoriensis
Appearance	Solid
Applications	Lactonic sophorolipids (LSLs) possess a great potential for application in areas such as: agriculture, food, biomedicine, bioremediation, cosmetics and enhanced oil recovery.
More Details	Lactonic sophorolipids (LSLs) are biosurfactants or biological detergents composed of a hydroxylated fatty acid and the glucose disaccharide sophorose. These commercially relevant molecules are produced by the yeast and offer a green and renewable alternative for traditional surfactants.

Lipopeptide
Catalog	BBC1291651
Biological source	Bacillus licheniformis
Appearance	Solid
Applications	Lipopepetides can be applied in diverse domains as food and cosmetic industries for their emulsification/de-emulsification capacity, dispersing, foaming, moisturizing, and dispersing properties. Also, they are qualified as viscosity reducers, hydrocarbon solubilizing and mobilizing agents, and metal sequestering candidates for application in environment and bioremediation. Moreover, their ability to form pores and destabilize biological membrane permits their use as antimicrobial, hemolytic, antiviral, antitumor, and insecticide agents^[1].
More Details	Lipopeptides (LPs) are microbial surface-active compounds produced by a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, and yeast. They are characterized by high structural diversity and have the ability to decrease the surface and interfacial tension at the surface and interface, respectively. They consist of a lipid connected to a peptide (short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds) and can self-assemble into different structures.

Other Biosurfactants
Product Name	Catalog	Biological source
Iturin	BBC9202118	Bacillus subtilis
Mannosylerythritol lipids	BBC1311414	Candida antarctica
Lichenin	BBC12938	Bacillus licheniformis
Emulsan	BBC5132112	Acinetobacter calcoaceticus
Chitin	BBC38920	Candida lipolytica
Lipoarabinomannan	BBC1291615	Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Lipomannan	BBC1291613	Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Alfa Chemistry is a professional supplier of biosurfactants. For high quality products, professional technical service, use suggestion and latest industry news, please feel free to contact us.

Case study

All

Rhamnolipid

Lactonic Sophorolipid

Rhamnolipid for Metal Ion Recovery and Separation via Bioionflotation

Schematic diagram of ion flotation Chakankar, Mital, Katrin Pollmann, and Martin Rudolph. Journal of Water Process Engineering 58 (2024): 104879.

Rhamnolipids, a class of biosurfactants, have garnered significant attention in environmental applications, particularly for metal complexation and recovery. This study investigates the influence of metal ions, specifically Gallium (Ga) and Arsenic (As), on the interfacial and foaming properties of rhamnolipids, focusing on flotation processes. The study employs isothermal titration calorimetry to explore the interactions between rhamnolipid and metal ions. Results reveal that Ga, both alone and in a mixed metal system with As, notably enhances the interfacial and foaming properties of rhamnolipids, compared to As alone. These findings underline the effectiveness of rhamnolipids as metal ion collectors, facilitating the recovery of Ga through bioionflotation.

Optimization of process parameters, such as rhamnolipid concentration, pH, and airflow rate, significantly impacts the separation efficiency. Under optimal conditions (0.85 mM rhamnolipid concentration, pH 6, and an airflow rate of 80 ml/min), approximately 74% of Ga was removed. The highest selectivity index for Ga over As (17.2) was observed at a lower airflow rate (40 ml/min). These results suggest that rhamnolipids can be effectively used for selective metal recovery, offering a promising and environmentally friendly method for the separation and recovery of valuable metals, with optimized parameters ensuring high efficiency.

Rhamnolipid-Functionalized Luffa Fibers for Pharmaceutical Contaminant Removal

Rhamnolipid functionalized luffa fibers for adsorptive removal of pharmaceutical contaminant Negarestani, Mehrdad, et al. Chemical Engineering Science 299 (2024): 120552.

This study investigates the use of rhamnolipid-functionalized luffa fibers (RL-LF) as an environmentally sustainable solution for removing pharmaceutical contaminants, specifically acetaminophen, from water. Luffa fibers were modified with eco-friendly rhamnolipid surfactant to enhance their adsorptive properties. The optimized process demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity of 37.03 mg/g at pH 5.0, with an impressive removal efficiency of around 97% for 20 mg/L acetaminophen. The adsorption process was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating a chemisorption mechanism, while the Freundlich isotherm model suggested multilayer adsorption.

Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption process was exothermic, feasible, and spontaneous, as indicated by the negative values of ΔH°, ΔG°, and ΔS°. Regeneration tests showed that the RL-LF adsorbent retained its high removal efficiency after six cycles, indicating good recyclability and sustainability.

This approach combines the natural adsorptive capacity of luffa fibers with the surfactant properties of rhamnolipids, offering a promising, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants. The ease of synthesis, high adsorption capacity, and strong performance under varying conditions highlight the potential of RL-LF as an innovative material for water purification.

Rhamnolipid-Facilitated Chemical Precipitation for Selective Metal Removal

Rhamnolipid-based Chemical Precipitation McCawley, Ida A., Raina M. Maier, and David E. Hogan. Journal of hazardous materials 447 (2023): 130801.

This research explores the use of rhamnolipids for metal recovery through chemical precipitation, a green and cost-effective method for removing critical elements from aqueous systems. The study examined the removal of Pb, La, and Mg from single metal solutions using rhamnolipids with varying hydrophobic tail lengths. The removal efficiency increased with higher hydrophobicity of the rhamnolipid and the addition of an active removal step, such as filtration or centrifugation.

Among the techniques tested, filtration achieved up to 96% removal of all metals, while centrifugation removed 97% of Pb and La and 60% of Mg. These findings suggest that by tailoring the rhamnolipid structure and optimizing removal techniques, selective metal recovery can be achieved, providing a sustainable approach to addressing metal contamination.

The ability to synthetically produce different rhamnolipid structures opens new possibilities for customizing metal removal processes. This study underscores the potential of rhamnolipids as a versatile tool for environmentally friendly metal recovery from both contaminated and natural water sources. Further investigation into mixed-metal solutions and real-world applications will be crucial to validate the practicality of these methods in complex environmental settings.

Lactonic Sophorolipid (LS) Self-Assembly for Cadmium Immobilization in Sediment

High performance self-assembled nano-chlorapatite in the presence of lactonic sophorolipid for the immobilization of cadmium Deng, Rui, and Xinyuan Zhan. Journal of Hazardous Materials 445 (2023): 130484.

This study investigates the use of lactonic sophorolipid (LS) for the preparation of self-assembled nano-chlorapatite (LS-nClAP) to immobilize cadmium (Cd) in sediment, offering an environmentally sustainable solution for heavy metal contamination. The synthesis of LS-nClAP involved two key steps: (1) the preparation of chlorapatite (ClAP) from calcium chloride (CaCl₂·2H₂O) and sodium phosphate (Na₃PO₄·12H₂O), followed by (2) the incorporation of LS to form the LS-nClAP suspension.

The LS solution was used in place of deionized water in the ClAP synthesis process, enabling the self-assembly of the nano-sized ClAP particles. The final LS-nClAP composite demonstrated excellent efficiency in immobilizing cadmium, showcasing the potential of LS as a green surfactant for environmental remediation applications. The synthesized LS-nClAP offers a promising approach to mitigate the mobility and bioavailability of cadmium in contaminated sediment.

The method's simplicity and effectiveness highlight the potential of lactonic sophorolipids in environmental science, particularly in the immobilization of toxic metals. Further research could optimize the LS-nClAP system for large-scale applications and assess its long-term stability and performance in complex environmental conditions, making it a valuable tool for sustainable pollution management.

Lactonic Sophorolipid (LS) Epoxidation and Ring-Opening to Synthesize Non-Ionic Sophorolipid-Based Surfactants

PEG modification of the oleate moiety of lactonic sophorolipids Ogunjobi, Joseph K., et al. Green Chemistry 23.24 (2021): 9906-9915.

This study presents the synthesis of novel non-ionic sophorolipid-based surfactants by modifying commercially available lactonic sophorolipid (LS) through epoxidation and subsequent ring-opening with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and methylated PEG (MePEG). The process begins with the epoxidation of LS using hydrogen peroxide and tungsten powder as the catalyst, yielding epoxidized lactonic sophorolipid (ELSL) with high yield (99.2%). The reaction is carefully controlled at 50 °C with the addition of phosphoric acid, followed by extraction with ethyl acetate to obtain the epoxidized product.

The ring-opening of the ELSL is achieved by reacting it with PEG or MePEG at elevated temperatures (80–100 °C) in the presence of a silica-BF3 or Fe-mont catalyst. This modification introduces non-ionic characteristics to the surfactant, offering a range of properties depending on the PEG chain length. The reaction is carefully monitored using 1H NMR spectroscopy, and the final products are purified using column chromatography to remove residual contaminants.

These novel surfactants exhibit potential for various applications due to their biodegradability, non-toxicity, and eco-friendly nature. The ability to tailor surfactant properties by adjusting the PEG chain length and the nature of the catalysts used paves the way for developing sustainable and effective surfactants for industrial and environmental applications.

Lactonic Sophorolipid Encapsulation in Cyclodextrin Metal-Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Solubility

Synthesis of LSL-CD-MOFs Zhang, Tingting, et al. Carbohydrate Polymers 314 (2023): 120931.

Lactonic sophorolipid (LSL) is a versatile surfactant known for its emulsification, wetting, and oil-washing properties. However, its poor water solubility limits its broader application, particularly in the petroleum industry. This study presents the synthesis of a novel composite material, lactonic sophorolipid encapsulated in γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (LSL-CD-MOFs), which improves the solubility of LSL and potentially expands its utility.

The LSL-CD-MOFs were synthesized using a cocrystallization method. γ-Cyclodextrin (γ-CD) was dissolved in KOH solution, followed by the addition of LSL dissolved in methanol. The mixture was incubated at 50 °C in a water bath to allow LSL to be encapsulated within the pores of the γ-CD-MOFs. The size of the composite was adjusted by adding cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), followed by centrifugation and purification steps to remove excess CTAB. The final product, LSL-CD-MOFs, was vacuum-dried for 24 hours.

The encapsulation of LSL into the γ-CD-MOFs enhances its solubility, offering significant potential for improved performance in water-based applications, such as in the petroleum industry for oil recovery and environmental remediation. This advancement paves the way for the development of more effective and sustainable surfactants.

Reference

Mnif, I., & Ghribi, D. Review lipopeptides biosurfactants: Mean classes and new insights for industrial, biomedical, and environmental applications. Biopolymers, 2015, 104(3), 129–147.