7 Eco-Friendly Biosurfactant Applications You need to Know

Biosurfactant Applications Blog by Locus Fermentation Solutions

Biosurfactant Applications: What are Biosurfactants?

Biosurfactants are organic compounds produced by microorganisms. These versatile molecules possess unique surface-active properties, making them invaluable across a spectrum of industries. Unlike their synthetic counterparts, biosurfactants are biodegradable, environmentally friendly and exhibit low toxicity. These bio-based agents are ushering in a new era of industry-wide eco-innovation in areas including:

Agriculture
Animal Nutrition
Oil and Gas
Mining
Industrial Products
Consumer Products
Health and Wellness

Below is a summary of the wide-ranging applications of biosurfactants in these industries, showcasing their effectiveness in addressing a multitude of challenges and optimizing vital processes. Biosurfactants also have cross-industry potential to positively impact numerous sectors and promote sustainable practices.

Biosurfactant Applications: Industry Overviews

1. Agriculture

A combination of surface, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and emulsifying activities makes biosurfactants a universal solution for many agriculture problems and processes, including:

Penetrate Compacted Soils: Enable water to be distributed more freely
Promote Root Growth: Allow roots to penetrate soil for better growth, which enhances input uptake
Increase Yields: Less compacted soils and enhanced root growth drives improved crop productivity

Solutions for Climate Change and Pollution Problems

By revitalizing individual fields, biosurfactants (and their microbial counterparts) play a pivotal role in reinstating the natural equilibrium of our planet. Many benefits may be realized by treating plants with microbial strains, including:

Carbon sequestration and reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide
Increased food production
Reduced runoff and water concerns
Enhanced fertilizer efficiency

2. Animal Nutrition

Biosurfactants address crucial aspects of animal hygiene, food additives and facility cleanliness. Their surface, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities uniquely position biosurfactants to enhance animal health and productivity in both livestock and companion animal applications.

In livestock uses, biosurfactants and their microbial counterparts can also address environmental concerns. One example is their ability to reduce the amount of methane released from cows through special diets. This is important, as methane gas is one of the major contributors to global warming and dangerous ground-level ozone formation.

Here are potential ways biosurfactants can contribute to the field of animal nutrition and health:

Antibacterial/antiviral/antifungal treatment of animals and facilities
Enhanced adsorption of nutrients from food
Anti-nematode treatment
Immune modulation
Treatment of animals’ fur and wool
Sanitation
Treatment of pastures and animal feed to inhibit methanogenic bacteria and methane production

3. Oil and Gas

Surfactants are the cornerstone of most chemical additives used in the oil and gas industry – from drilling and completions fluids to production chemicals. These oilfield surfactants have been historically sourced from non-renewable, petroleum-based materials. However, the current landscape requires more complex approaches for reservoirs with lower porosity, lower permeability, higher temperatures and greater pressures. Simultaneously, the industry faces global pressures to meet growing energy demands using less resources and more sustainable means.

Enter biosurfactants. Operators are increasingly using biosurfactants to meet these challenges because they are proven to be cost-effective and highly efficient in the oilfield, typically outperforming traditional synthetic surfactants. Biosurfactant technology improves production and operational efficacy using their current assets – with little to no change in existing chemical programs – in applications such as:

Upstream

Acidizing treatments
Enhanced oil recovery
Hydrate inhibitor
Hydraulic fracturing 
Oil viscosity reduction
Production enhancement
Wellbore flow assurance (paraffin/asphaltene dispersal and deposit control)

Midstream

Cleaning of transportation and storage facilities (barges, storage tanks)
Friction reducer cleaner
Hydrocarbon remediation (pipeline cleaners)
Pipeline flow assurance
Saltwater disposal
Water treatment

Downstream

Crude oil desalter
Demulsifier
Diesel cold flow improvers
Engine oil emulsifier and stabilizer
Fuel additives
Marine fuel anti-sludge
Water treatment

4. Mining

Biosurfactant additives can extract metals and minerals that traditional synthetic reagents can’t reach, including from low-grade ores. These ESG-friendly reagents easily integrate into existing mining operations to immediately boost mineral recovery, selectivity and productivity using substantially less energy.

This is due to the unique characteristics and functionality of biosurfactants:

Adsorption-desorption that can extend performance
Small micelle size penetrates nanopores
Maintain stability in acids and alkalis
Remain active in extreme pH and salinity conditions
Boost acid performance, reducing concentration of toxic chemicals

Potential applications of biosurfactants in mining include:

Dewatering aids
Dust suppression
Flotation
Flocculation
Filtration
Foaming control
Freeze control
Grinding aids
Leaching
Tailings management
Water treatment

5. Industrial Ingredients

Similar to other applications, a combination of surface, antimicrobial, detergent and emulsifying activities allows biosurfactants to enhance performance in many industrial markets and products. This includes use in formulations for:

Agricultural Adjuvants
Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants and Elastomers (CASE)
Construction
Industrial and Institutional Cleaning (I&I)
Metalworking Fluids (MWF)
Paints and coatings
Pulp and paper
Textiles and Leather
Water Treatment Solutions

Biosurfactants can reduce carbon intensity, minimize aquatic toxicity and offer lower usage rates, all while enhancing performance and overall product sustainability profile in these industrial applications.

6. Consumer Products and Brands

Biosurfactants can solve key pain points in personal care and home care product formulations. They are 100% bio-based alternatives to traditional petrochemical surfactants and other types of partially bio-based surfactants. This includes chemical surfactants being banned by regulatory agencies.

Beyond the conventional realm of products on our shelves, biosurfactants enable new formulations that boast sustainability and performance.

Personal Care Ingredients

Biosurfactant ingredients have a wide range of unique properties that make them ideal for use in almost every personal care product:

Act as emulsifiers, increasing water mobility in the skin to reduce inflammatory processes and stimulate healthy cell growth and skin activity
Minimize irritation and skin damage that may be caused by legacy surfactants, create a barrier to protect from external stressors and enhance its ability to retain moisture
Increase the absorbance of other active ingredients by skin and hair
Do not require amphoteric co-surfactants such as betaines
Have a high degree of synergy with cellulosic additives, like xanthan gum, to produce viscosity and rheologies similar to traditional salt-thickened formulations

Examples of personal care products include:

Anti-aging, skin moisturizing creams, lotions and emollients
Body wash, facial cleansers and hand sanitizers
Cosmetics and makeup removers
Medicated treatments for skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis
Oral care products
Shampoo and conditioner
Sunscreen

Home Care Ingredients

Biosurfactants can advance home care cleaning by acting as:

Degreasers
Foaming or defoaming agents
Detergents
Multifunctional emulsifiers
Odor preventers
Porous surface cleaning boosters
Sanitizers

They have the ability to increase the effectiveness of cleaning chemicals by allowing for better penetration into environmental surfaces. Types of home cleaning products that can benefit by reformulation with biosurfactants include:

Carwash
Power wash
Glass cleaners
Dishwashing and laundry detergents
Stainless steel cleaners
Tub and tile cleaners
Carpet shampoo

7. Health and Wellness

In the pursuit of holistic well-being, biosurfactants offer a myriad of benefits that transcend traditional approaches to wellness. From enhancing nutrient absorption and cellular hydration to promoting cardiovascular health and optimizing pharmaceutical intake, biosurfactants play a transformative role in elevating the overall quality of life.

Biosurfactants ability to improve bioavailability, micelle size, absorption and water mobility while reducing surface tension means they have potential to:

Improve the solubility of food and absorption of medications and supplements
Increase hydration potential of ingested water and other beverages
Increase the expulsion of waste products
Reduce biofilms and adhesion factors of potentially pathogenic bacteria

It’s possible that biosurfactants may be able to be used in a variety of health and wellness applications, including:

Food and beverage
- Food preservatives and emulsifiers
- Packaging
- Rehydrating drinks
Pharmaceuticals
- Antibiotics
- Antifungals
- Antihypertensives
- Heart medications
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Inhaled drugs and compounds
Vitamins, minerals and supplements (lycopene, CoQ10, turmeric, curcumin, etc.)

Locus FS: A Leader in Biosurfactant Applications and Research

Locus Fermentation Solutions, a US-based green tech company, has quickly bcecome a global leader in biosurfactant production, research and commercialization. The company has over 1,400 patent filings for biosurfactant applications in all of the above industries, with the team consistently uncovering new uses. The company’s focus on research and innovation cements its position as a key player that’s driving the evolution of biosurfactant technology.

Conclusion

The expansive applications of biosurfactants have illuminated a path toward sustainable innovation across various sectors. From agriculture to consumer brands, these 100% bio-based ingredients have showcased their remarkable versatility, offering eco-friendly solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time. As we’ve explored their role in enhancing agricultural practices, addressing animal well-being, and revolutionizing wellness and consumer goods, it becomes evident that biosurfactants are not just agents of change; they are catalysts for a greener, healthier future.

Biosurfactant Applications: Powerful, Sustainable Solutions for Every Industry