For many years we have been exploring the concept of engineering new surfactants using novel bio-based technologies. Sustainable products from renewable sources have been around for many years but the majority have very limited functionality in terms of performance compared to synthetic counter-types. Our remit was to develop a range of bio-based products that offer comparable performance against the synthetic products across a wide range of applications.

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Anionic surfactants are negatively charged materials that are available in a variety of chemical types. The main classes being alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, alkylbenzene sulfonates, alpha olefin sulfonates, phosphate esters. They are used in a wide range of applications where they provide useful characteristics including, emulsification, solubilisation, wetting, detergency, dispersion and foaming.

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Nonionic surfactants carry no electrical charge and are available in a variety of chemical types. The main classes are alcohol ethoxylates, alcohol ethoxylates/propoxylates, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers, castor oil ethoxylates, amine ethoxylates, fatty acid esters and their ethoxylates. They are used in a wide range of applications where they provide useful characteristics including  emulsification, solubilisation, wetting, dispersion, detergency, foaming and defoaming.

Amphoteric surfactants can carry a positive or negative charge depending on pH, whereas cationic surfactants carry a positive charge. There are a number of chemical types for amphoteric surfactants including betaines, amidopropyl betaines, alkylamino dipropionates. They are used in a wide range of applications where they provide useful characteristics such as foaming, solubilisation, antistatic.

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