Rhamnolipid milestone reached

Evonik has manufactured the first product from its industrial-scale biosurfactants facility at Slovenská Lupca in Slovakia. This has thereby become the first plant anywhere in the world to produce sustainable rhamnolipid biosurfactants.

Slovenská Lupca produces rhamnolipids via a proprietary fermentation process that uses European corn sugar as the main raw material. They are fully biodegradable, with a low toxicological and ecotoxicological profile, as well as being entirely biobased.

Evonik states that these surfactants offer “exceptional” foam-forming properties and mildness, making them suitable for use in household cleaners and personal care products, such as shampoos and micellar waters. Other applications include coatings, mining, oil and gas.