Biosurfactants
A process that integrates fermentation and separation is being scaled up to produce biosurfactants. Developed by Holiferm (Manchester, U.K.; www.holiferm.com), the process is based on a fermentation using a natural yeast derived from a Canadian honey bee hive, using vegetable oil and glucose as raw materials. Sophorolipids, the product of the fermentation, are subsequently recovered by an integrated separation process based on gravity and phase separation.
Last April, the company installed a 600-L pilot production plant in Daresbury and completed its first batch, which produced hundreds of kilograms of sophorolipid. The products have been purified and shipped. The pilot plant has an annual production capacity of 25 metric tons. The next step being planned is for a “Commercial 1” production facility that will produce 1,000 m.t./yr.
Sophorolipid has been shown to be an effective surfactant that has no toxicity and is completely biodegradable. The surfactant could be an alternative to petroleum-derived surfactants used in homecare and cosmetics products.