Sophorolipid (abbreviated as SL) is a secondary metabolite of microorganisms produced by Candida by sugar and vegetable oil as a carbon source and subjected to a certain fermentation process. Glycolipid is a glycolipid biosurfactant. It has the general properties of solubilization, emulsifying, wetting, foaming, dispersing, reducing surface tension, etc., and also has non-toxicity, 100% biodegradability, temperature resistance, high salt resistance, and adaptation to PH. Wide range and environmentally friendly features. Sophorolipids can be used in petroleum, environmental protection, medicine, food, cosmetics, washing, home care, agriculture, feed, etc., and can be used to partially or completely replace chemically synthesized surfactants....
1. Overview of Sophorolipid Biosurfactant
Sophorolipid (SL) is a secondary metabolite produced by Candida spp. using sugar and vegetable oil as a carbon source through a fermentation process under certain conditions. Sophorolipid is a kind of glycolipid biosurfactant. It has the general properties of solubilizing, emulsifying, wetting, foaming, dispersing and reducing surface tension of conventional surfactants, and it is also non-toxic, 100% biodegradable, temperature resistant, high salt resistant, and suitable for PH Wide range and environmentally friendly characteristics. Sophorolipids can be used in petroleum, environmental protection, medicine, food, cosmetics, washing, household care, agriculture, feed and other fields, and can partially or completely replace chemically synthesized surfactants.
The production process we use includes two stages of fermentation and extraction. The fermentation process is entirely a microbial metabolism process, and the raw materials are derived from natural plants. The extraction process uses a physical extraction process without organic solvents. There is no chemical reaction or addition of chemical ingredients in all the processes, ensuring the overall process is green and environmentally friendly.
2. Production process description
At present, the product suppliers with exact information that can be industrialized use fermentation technology to produce, and the strains are all natural breeding, and there is no genetically engineered bacteria for industrial production. The purification process is basically a physical method, including natural sedimentation, centrifugation, membrane filtration, etc. At present, a few companies such as China and Germany can provide industrialized products.
3. Description of technical information
Sophorolipids were first discovered in 1961. Different types of sophorolipids have common structural characteristics. Each molecule is composed of two parts: hydrophilic and hydrophobic. The hydrophilic part is sophorose and the hydrophobic part is saturated or non-saturated. Saturated long-chain hydroxy fatty acids. The difference lies in the length of the fatty acid chain, the degree of saturation, and the position and degree of acetylation. According to whether there is 1,4" esterification, it is also divided into lactone type and acid type. Lactone type sophorolipid has better ability to reduce surface tension and has strong antibacterial activity; while acid type sophorolipid has better foam Formation ability and solubility. According to known literature reports, there may be as many as dozens of specific single structure types.
4. Application of Sophorolipid
Sophorolipid is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic, non-polluting biosurfactant, which does not cause harm to microorganisms, animals and humans. It can be used not only in industry, but also in daily life and other civilian aspects. At present, sophorolipids have been widely used in cleaning, daily chemical, environmental protection, petroleum, metallurgy, food, medicine and other fields. The latest research shows that sophorolipids can also be used in nanotechnology. As raw materials for expensive materials, they have good application prospects.
