BioRefineries Blog

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Evonik is investing a three-digit million-euro sum in the construction of a new production plant for biobased and fully biodegradable rhamnolipids. Rhamnolipids are biosurfactants and serve as active ingredients in shower gels and detergents. Demand for environmentally friendly surfactants is growing rapidly worldwide. Press release: “ Evonik builds world's first industrial-scale production plant for rhamnolipids ”, 14/12/2021. Figure 1. Schematic representation of the production of biosurfactants The investment at the Slovenská Ľupča site in Slovakia strengthens Evonik's partnership with the consumer goods group Unilever, which began in 2019. At the same time the investment allows Evonik to further expand its own market position in the growth market for biosurfactants. The new plant is scheduled to come on stream in two years. Rhamnolipids are produced by fermentation of sugar. Fossil carbon and tropical fats, which have so far been used to pr...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. BASF has signed two partnerships agreements to expand its global position in the biobased surfactants market. Press release: “ BASF strengthens its position in biosurfactants for Personal Care, Home Care and Industrial Formulators with two distinct partnerships ”, 10/03/2021. Figure 1. BASF partners with biobased surfactant companies in Japan and the UK (taken from Holiferm website) (1) A strategic alliance with Allied Carbon Solutions Co.,Ltd (ACS), Japanese provider of surfactants from biomass. The strategic alliance with ACS includes an equity stake and makes BASF the single largest shareholder. The partners have agreed not to disclose financial details regarding the investment. In collaboration with ACS, BASF developed a novel sophorolipid-based ingredient, produced via fermentation technology, and launched it in the Asian market under the brandname BioToLife™ in the second quarter of 2020. BioToLife™ can curb the overgrowth of some harmf...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  Sironix Renewables (a Seattle-based company developing non-toxic, sustainably-sourced ingredients for the cleaning products and personal care industries) has announced the close of a funding round to scale production at its Seattle facility of its Eosix® technology.  Press release: “ Sironix Renewables Closes Seed Round to Scale Production of its Plant-based Surfactant for Detergents, Cleaners & Shampoos ”, 16/09/2020.   Figure 1. Sironix raises funds to scale-up production of its biosurfactants   The round of 645 k$ included funding from the University of Minnesota Discovery Capital Investment program and from angel investors. Additionally, Sironix also announced it has been awarded a 1.15 M$ grant from the US Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing Office. Sironix is a spin-off of the University of Minnesota and has received more than 6.4 M$ in grants and equity funding since its formation in 2016....