148 BIOSURFACTANTS


Figure 4: Holiferm production process including semi-continuous fermentation and patented gravity separation


to go on this journey with consumers not just because people want it, but because the planet and people are suffering due to our slow speed of innovation. This is where biosurfactants and other fermentation products can be a solution. Sophorolipids can be produced by the


fermentation of vegetable oil and sugar by a wild-type yeast.6


In contrast to most traditional


surfactant production processes this process is suitable for local raw-material supply & manufacture in most regions of the world. These factors can lead to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions compared to petrochemical and bio- based surfactant manufacture.


Holiferm: boosting sustainability of surfactants Holiferm was formed in 2018 based on technology developed by their founder and chief executive Ben Dolman. The founding team rapidly demonstrated the potential of their technology at lab scale. Scale-up to a pilot production facility allowed them to turn their biosurfactants into a commercial product and make their first commercial sales into the consumer goods market. Success at this scale allowed Holiferm to


gain funding for their first commercial scale factory. Holiferm opened their manufacturing facility in Wallasey, UK in 2023 and are now operating at a 1.1 kilotonnes per year capacity with all manufacture in the UK and a European supply chain. Holiferm has also received £18.5 million ($23.3 million) funding to expand production to 15 kilotonnes per year in the near future. That will represent a big boost to the biosurfactant industry and unlock further competitiveness from Holiferm’s sophorolipid products. The standard fermentation process used


PERSONAL CARE April 2024


to produce sophorolipids is already a great improvement on the standard synthetic processes used to produce most common surfactants. The natural feedstocks, biological process, and local supply chains mean biosurfactant products are the next step in sustainability for the chemical industry. Holiferm, as shown in Figure 4, have taken the ideas from a traditional fermentation and through development improved them to maximise efficiency and minimise waste. Using a patented integrated gravity separation technology Holiferm have switched the traditional batch fermentation process into a semi-continuous process. The fermentation in this case is able to run


for a longer time period, while the sophorolipid is constantly being extracted from the system. This reduces the required capex spend and energy usage per volume of sophorolipid produced compared to a traditional batch fermentation process. Importantly, these process improvements


have allowed Holiferm to bring sophorolipids to the market at a competitive price, and with a 50% lower carbon footprint compared to traditional surfactants. Further benefits include the following.


■ 100% bio-based, 100% renewable carbon: the feedstocks used to produce sophorolipids can be sourced from exclusively renewable sources. ■ 1,4-dioxane-free: the natural production process allows sophorolipids to be made without containing any harmful chemicals of concern. ■ Palm-free: sophorolipids can be produced with a local, sustainable supply chain without reliance on palm oil. ■ Sulphate-free: gentle cleansing in personal care. Perfect for eco-friendly formulations


■ Non-GMO: sophorolipids can be produced using a wild-type yeast and natural feedstocks


PC


References 1. Kumari A, Kumari S, Prasad GS and Pinnaka AK. Production of Sophorolipid Biosurfactant by Insect Derived Novel Yeast Metschnikowia churdharensis f.a., sp. nov., and Its Antifungal Activity Against Plant and Human Pathogens. Front. Microbiol. 2021; 12:678668


2. Lang S, Katsiwela E, Wagner F. Antimicrobial effects of biosurfactants. Fat Sci. Technol. 1989; 91:363–366


3. Bhatia A, Maisonneuve JF, Persing DH. Propionibacterium acnes and chronic diseases. In: Institute of Medicine (US) Forum on Microbial Threats; Knobler SL, O’Connor S, Lemon SM, et al, editors. The Infectious Etiology of Chronic Diseases: Defining the Relationship, Enhancing the Research, and Mitigating the Effects: Workshop Summary. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2004


4. Galabova D, Sotirova A, Karpenko E, Karpenko O. Chapter 3 - Role of Microbial Surface-Active Compounds in Environmental Protection, Editor(s): Monzer Fanun, The Role of Colloidal Systems in Environmental Protection, Elsevier, 2014, p. 41-83


5. Naldi L et al. Prevalence of self-reported skin complaints and avoidance of common daily life consumer products in selected European Regions. JAMA Dermatol. 2014;150(2):154–163


6. Daverey A, Pakshirajan K. Production, Characterization, and Properties of Sophorolipids from the Yeast Candida bombicola using a Low-cost Fermentative Medium. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 2009; 158:663–674


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