Natural surfactants are surface-active molecules synthesized from renewable resources (i.e., plants, animals, or microorganisms) and possess properties comparable to conventional surfactants, making them an environmentally friendly potential alternative to petrochemical surfactants. Additionally, they exhibit biological properties such as anti-microbial properties, biodegradability, and less toxicity, allowing their use in everyday products with minimal risk to human health and the environment. Based on their mode of production, natural surfactants can be classified into first-generation or bio-based surfactants and second-generation or biosurfactants, although their definition may vary depending on the author in the literature.
Introduction
One of the most prevalent petrochemical-derived compounds in daily life are surfactants. These molecules, known for their ability to reduce surface or interfacial tension between two liquids, are widely employed in the detergents, cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Their amphiphilic structure enables functionalities such as emulsification, wetting, foaming, suspension, and lubrication. Surfactants are categorized based on the ionic charge of their hydrophilic polar head into non-ionic, anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic (or amphoteric) types. However, conventional surfactants are known for their toxicity and resistance to degradation, which exacerbates the environmental impact and bioaccumulation concerns. Moreover, due to their high solubility in water, residual surfactant contents often persist after wastewater treatments and are subsequently discharged into aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, these compounds can impair the efficacy of microorganisms used in wastewater treatment processes due to their anti-microbial properties.
To address these challenges, the surfactant industry is innovating more sustainable alternatives, synthesizing surfactants from renewable resources such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. In the literature, these alternatives are referred to as natural surfactants, renewable surfactants, green surfactants, bio-based surfactants, or biosurfactants, though the definitions may vary depending on the source.
In addition, natural surfactants exhibit properties comparable to their petrol chemical counterparts, with added benefits such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, lower toxicity, stability under extreme conditions, and eco-friendliness. These features result in reduced environmental impact due to the use of renewable feedstocks that lower CO2 emissions during production (Figure 1).
Surfactants
Petrol-based surfactants, also known as tension-active agents, are amphiphilic molecules consisting of a polar hydrophilic region (head) chemically bonded to a hydrophobic tail, typically composed of a linear, branched, or aromatic hydrocarbon chain. Based on the ionic charge of the hydrophilic head, surfactants are classified into four main categories: non-ionic, anionic, cationic, or zwitterionic/amphoteric.
Due to their structure, these molecules can reduce the surface tension between two liquid phases (typically 20-72 mN/m). Their performance is influenced by two critical parameters: the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The HLB value is determined by the balance between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions of the molecule, and it is associated with the specific functions of surfactants (Table 1).
| HLB Range | Applications |
| 4-6 | Water/oil emulsifer |
| 7-9 | Wetting agent |
| 8-18 | Oil/water emulsifier |
| 13-15 | Detergent |
| 15-18 | Solubilizer |
The HLB number is usually calculated using the Griffin method:
where X and W are the molecular mass of the hydrophilic region of the surfactant and the molecular mass of the whole molecule, respectively. A high HLB value indicates dominance of the hydrophilic region, while a low HLB value represents lipophilic dominance.
Even though HLB is commonly used for surfactant formulations, the hydrophilic-lipophilic difference (HLD) method overcomes its drawbacks by including the effects of oil and surfactant nature, temperature, salinity, and ionic strength to predict the macro properties of surfactants with greater accuracy. This semi-empirical method relates experimental parameters to describe the affinity difference in surfactants for the water and oil phases.
The general HLD equation is described as follows:
where Cc is the surfactant-specific characteristic curvature, EACN is the equivalent alkane carbon number, ΔT is the difference between the actual and the reference temperatures, f(S) is the salinity function (i.e., ln(S) for ionic surfactants and b·S for non-ioninc surfactants), and a, b, and k are empirical constants related to the surfactant. Most surfactants with more hydrophilic behaviors have a very high value of Cc, favoring a positive HLD.
The CMC is the concentration value at which surfactants self-assemble into micelles in the presence of polar or non-polar solvents, reaching the lowest stable surface tension value. Once micelles are formed, surface tension is no longer affected. Above the CMC value, surfactants reduce surface tension and form micelles of various shapes-ranging from spherical to more complex structures-that influence their dynamic and rheological properties and the overall functional performance. Furthermore, the CMC values are temperature-dependent; higher temperatures lead to lower CMC values (Figure 2).
Natural Surfactants
The depletion of fossil resources and growing sustainability awareness have encouraged the surfactant market to explore natural and renewable sources. These alternatives aim to minimize environmental harm and enhance product benefits. Natural surfactants are surface-active molecules produced from renewable materials including plants, animals, microorganisms, or agricultural by-products and waste. Often referred to as bio-based surfactants, green surfactants, or biosurfactants, their definitions vary according to the literature. For instance,
- Bio-based surfactants: produced by chemical synthesis, from renewable resources.
- Biosurfactants: biosynthesized by living organisms, such as microorganisms.
Natural surfactants have an amphiphilic structure, similar to fossil-based surfactants but with more variability in the division of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. Furthermore, their CMC is lower than the CMC of conventional surfactants, allowing the use of significantly smaller concentrations. For plant-based surfactants, the CMC value depends on factors like plant type and extraction method (Table 2).
| Type | Name | CMC[g/L] | Reduced Surface Tension [mN/m] | Temperature [°C] |
| Non-renewablesurfactants | Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) | 2.004 | 39.2 | 20 |
| Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) | 2.36 | 25 | N.A. | |
| Cetyl trimethyl ammoniumbromide (CTAB) | 1.131 353 | N.A 33.4 | 25 25 | |
| Bio-based surfactants | Decyl glycoside from D-glucose(APG) | 0.994 | 26 | N.A. |
| Decyl glycoside from D-xylose(APG) | 0.301 | 28 | N.A. | |
| Betula pendula saponins (leaves) | 0.24 | 45.7 | 20 | |
| Bellis perennis saponins (flowers) | 0.076 | 36.8 | 20 | |
| Genipa americana saponins | 0.65 | 31.39± 0.15 | 25±1 | |
| Biosurfactants | Sophorolipids | 0.04-0.1 | 30-40 | N.A. |
| Rhamnolipids | 0.01-0.02 | 26 | N.A. | |
| Hydrophilic mannosylerythritol lipid(MEL) | 0.1 | 27 | 25±2 | |
| Hydrophilic mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL)-G | 0.125 | 30.5 | 25±2 | |
| Surfactin | 0.02 | 27 | N.A. | |
| lturin C3 | 0.04183 | N.A. | 20 | |
| Hydrophobin | 0.005 | 30 | N.A. |
In addition to standard surfactant functions like emulsification, lubrication, and wetting, natural surfactants may also exhibit anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-cancer, and anti-corrosive properties. They are highly resistant to temperature, salinity, and pH variation. Due to these properties, they are highly used in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, textile-leather sectors, and in metallurgical-petrochemical industries, in which they are used for applications such as ion flotation, soil remediation, the bioremediation of the marine environment, the treatment of oily effluents, and metal removal. Furthermore, natural surfactants fulfill many of the principles of green chemistry, due to the raw material used as substrate and their degradability, reusability, low environmental toxicity, wide availability, and biocompatibility (Figure 3) .
Renewable surfactants can be classified based on their ionic charge, renewable resources origin, or the methods and processes used for their synthesis. According to the compound generation, natural surfactants can be classified as:
- First-generation natural surfactants or bio-based surfactants are extracted and purified or chemically synthesized from plant-based and animal-based feedstock to achieve the desired surfactant structure, such as saponins and alkyl polyglucosides (APGs).
- Second-generation natural surfactants are biosynthesized directly by plants, animals, or microorganisms through biological processes, such as fermentation, using renewable raw materials, by-products, or agro-industrial waste. Known as biosurfactants, sophorolipids and rhamnolipids are the most commercially recognized in this category.
First-Generation Natural Surfactants: Bio-Based Surfactants
Most bio-based surfactants are derived from plants and animals. The hydrophilic component typically consists of carbohydrates, glycerol, and amino acids, while the hydrophobic part is made up of fatty acids obtained from different plants or waste cooking oils. Both components can be chemically or enzymatically linked together to form the amphiphilic structure of surfactants.
In Table 3 are listed some of the most well-known bio-based surfactants nowadays:
| Name | Derived/Produced from | Function |
| AlkyI polyglucosides (APGs) | Synthesized through the trans-acetylation or acetylation processbetween glucose (i.e.. from comnor wheat) and fatty alcohols (i.e.from palm kernel or coconut oil). | High tolerance of electrolytes, thermal stability, emulsifying, foaming, and wetting properties, biodegradability, anti-bacterial activity, thickening effects, dermatological compatibility, and ocular safety. |
| Saponins | Found as a blend of varioussaponin types in diverse parts of the plants. | Emulsifiers, foaming agents, detergents, shampoos, solubilizers, insect repellents, foodadditives, cosmetics, wetling agents, pharmaceuticals, drug carriers, antioxidantsanti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-fungal, anti.microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumoral, analgesic, molluscicides, remediation, amongother functions. |
| Glycerol-based surfactant | Glycerol and fatty acids through esterification or transesterifcation. | Emulsifying and solubilizing properties, alkali tolerance, foam stability, and laundry performances. |
| Sucrose sorbitans | Synthesized by esterification of triglycerides or transesterification of fatty acid methyl ester with sucrose in basic catalyst presence. | Emulsifiers in cosmetics, cleansing, and personal care products but could have potential as drug permeability enhancers due to their biocompatible and eco-friendly behaviors. |
Plant-Based Surfactants-Saponins
Plants are a major source of natural surfactants, with saponins serving as non-ionic bio-based surfactants naturally produced by more than 100 species of vascular plants and some marine organisms. Saponins act as chemical barriers against pathogens and herbivores. They are found in various plant parts, including leaves, roots, flowers, seed pericarp, and fruits. They could be extracted through conventional methods (i.e., maceration, soxhlet extraction, and reflux extraction) or advanced extraction techniques (i.e., ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, and accelerated solvent extraction).
Their concentration and composition depend on the plant type, plant part, growth conditions, and extraction method. Saponins consist of non-polar aglycones linked to sugar molecules. According to their aglycone type, saponins can be classified into two classes (Figure 4):
- Triterpene saponins with a pentacyclic nucleus composed of 30 carbon atoms;
- Steroidal saponins are composed of a nucleus of 27 carbon atoms. There is another steroidal skeleton, called the furostane skeleton, in which the pentacyclic aglycone structure is maintained due to the glycosidic connection involved in the hydroxyl group at the 26-position of the fresh plant material.
While according to the number of sugar chains, saponins are classified as mono-, di-, or tri-desmosidic saponins. The most common sugars present in saponins are mostly composed of D-glucose, D-galactose, L-arabinose, L-rhamnose, D-xylose, and D-fructose.
Due to their structural diversity, saponins have an extensive list of applications in different sectors as emulsifiers, foaming agents, detergents, shampoos, solubilizers, insect repellents, food additives, cosmetics, wetting agents, pharmaceuticals, drug carriers, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumoral, analgesic, molluscicides, remediation, among other functions.
Second-Generation Surfactants: Biosurfactants
Biosurfactants, also referred to as microbial surfactants are secondary metabolites produced through enzymatic reactions by microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi) during the late exponential phase of growth. These reactions utilize renewable resources as substrates (i.e., carbohydrates and vegetable oils). These natural surface-active molecules are involved in many cellular communication processes and can either be secreted extracellularly or remain associated with cell surfaces. On an industrial scale, biosurfactant production is sustainable, with its efficiency greatly enhanced by advancements in biotechnology. Their complex chemical structures and various properties are influenced by the producing microorganisms, the type of substrates used, medium composition, and culture condition (Figure 5).
The main classes of biosurfactants, according to their molecular structure, are glycolipids, lipopeptides, proteins, lipoproteins, phospholipids, polymeric biosurfactants, polysaccharides, lipopolysaccharides, and fatty acids]. Another classification divides them by molecular weight:
- Low molecular weight (<1200 g/mol): glycolipids, lipopeptides, and phospholipids, which are more effective at reducing surface tension;
- High molecular weight (>45,000 g/mol): polysaccharides, proteins, lipoproteins, and lipopolysaccharides, highly used as bio-emulsifiers.
Most biosurfactants have a non-ionic or anionic nature and find applications in different fields, including food, agriculture, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, environmental protection processes (i.e., oil recovery, bioremediation, and oil mobilization), personal care, and cleaning products.
Compared to chemical surfactants, biosurfactants offer numerous advantages, such as lower critical micelle concentration (CMC), higher biodegradability, reduced toxicity, biological activities (i.e., anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer properties), resistance to extreme pH and temperature variation, enhanced ecological compatibility, etc., .
The most well-known commercialized microbial surfactants are glycolipids, such as sophorolipids, rhamnolipids, and mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs). Table 4 summarizes some of the biosurfactants by category.
| Type | Name | Biosynthesized by | Applications |
| Glycolipids | Rhamnolipids | Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Anti-adhesive, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-tumor, dispersing, emulsification, wetting, detergency, and de-emulsification activities, among other effects. |
| Sophorolipids | Starmerella bombicola and other yeast | Lubricants, solubilizers, detergents, foaming agents, emulsifiers, wound healing and anti-cancer effects, and anti-microbial agents against several bacteria, viruses, and fungi species. | |
| Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) | Fungi species such as Moesziomyces and Ustilago sp., or yeast strains belonging to the Pseudozyma family. | Anti-tumoral, anti-biofilm, and anti-bacterial agents, emulsifiers, enzyme activation/inhibition, gene transfection and gene therapy in biomedical applications. Antioxidant and protective properties in skin cells, moisturizing effect for dry skin, and their potential as anti-melanogenic properties in skincare products. | |
| Cellobiose lipids | Ustilago maydis, Ustilagomycetic yeasts of the genus Pseudozyma such as P. fusiformata, P. aphidis, and P. hubeiensis. | Anti-microbial potential, phytopathogenic action against powdery mildew, yeasts and Gram-positive bacteria commonly associated with human infections. Additives for the formulation of colloids applied in the food and cosmetics industries, etc. | |
| Trehalose lipids | Gram-positive bacteria with high GC (Guanine and Cytosine) content: Actinomycetales such as Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Corynebacterium, and Rhodococcus. | Emulsifiers, wetting, foaming, solubilizers, anti-microbial, and anti-adhesive agents in biomedical, pharmaceutical, food, and environmental sectors. | |
| Xylolipids | Secreted by Pichia caribbica when grown in xylose-rich media. Lactococcus lactis LNH70. | Reduce the surface tension to 35.9 mN/m with a CMC of 1 mg/L, anti-bacterial activity against S. aureus. Antioxidant properties. | |
| Glycolipid with polyol as polar moiety—polyol lipids | Liamocins | Produced by Aureobasidium pullulans, Aureobasidium melanogenum. | Anti-bacterial activity against strains of Streptococcus spp. Anti-microbial agent group, particularly in prophylactic applications. Inhibit the formation of oral biofilms of S. mutans, S. sobrinus, and S. suis, mainly by rupturing the pathogen’s cell membrane. |
| Polyol esters of fatty acids (PEFA) | Secreted by genus Rhodotorula such as Rhodotorula graminis and Rhodotorula glutinis. | Anti-foam activities. Promote the formation of water-in-oil emulsions in water/octane mixtures. Promising prospects for therapeutic and environmental applications. | |
| Surfactin | Bacillus species | Antibiotic properties for humans and plants. At high concentrations, they show anti-bacterial effects but has fewer anti-fungal properties than other lipopeptide biosurfactants. | |
| Iturin | Bacillus bacteria and closely related bacterial strains | Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-biofilm, anti-cancer, anti-viral, and hemolytic agents. Biocontrol agents in agriculture. Microbial-enhanced oil recovery in the petroleum sector. Emulsifiers and inhibitors of fat globule aggregation in food industries. | |
| Fengycin | Bacillus species | Anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, antibiotic, and anti-viral properties. Biocontrol agents. | |
| Viscosin | Synthesized by soil and marine bacteria such as Pseudomonas sp. (Pseudomonas fluorescens) | Anti-microbial effects against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and human viruses. Involved in pore formation and destabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane of target cells. | |
| Lichenysin | Bacillus licheniformis. | Anti-microbial agent against important human pathogens. Pre-coating agents on various surfaces used in several indwelling medical devices and catheters in in vitro conditions. | |
| Surface-active proteins | Hydrophobins | Filamentous fungi (i.e., Penicillium, Aspergillus, Trichoderma, extremophilic species, or mycorrhizal fungi). | Modification of wettability of solid surfaces (i.e., Teflon), immune-suppressive barrier, hydrophobic drug solubilization and delivery in biomedical applications, antimicrobial coating for biomaterials, food dispersion, protein purification process, biosensors, foam and emulsion stabilizers. |
| Polymeric biosurfactant | Alasan | Acinetobacter radioresistens bacteria. | Emulsifying, stabilizing, solubilizing, and surface activities. |
| Emulsan | Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4 bacteria. | Excellent emulsion stabilizer at low concentrations. | |
| Liposan | Candida lipolytica. | Emulsifying, solubilizing, and emulsion stabilizing properties. | |
| Mannanproteins | Saccharomyces spp. and Kluyveromyces marxianus of yeast. | Bio-emulsifiers, antioxidants, anti-bacterial and antibiotic properties, anti-tumor agents, and prebiotic components. It can act as a surfactant, reducing bacterial adhesion to the intestines and biofilm formation. | |
| Biodispersan | Generated by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strains. | Emulsifying and stabilizing agents in the industry. |
Glycolipids
Glycolipids are amphiphilic compounds that are naturally present in living organisms, where they play an important role in many biological processes, such as molecular recognition, cell adhesion, interaction with cellular membranes, and signal transduction, among other biological functions. On an industrial scale, they are produced by fermentation processes; some examples of glycolipid biosurfactants that are already commercialized are sophorolipids, rhamnolipids, and mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs). They are composed of a carbohydrate group linked through glycosidic bonds to lipid groups. They are derived from bacterial species like Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp., or yeast such as Candida bombicola. These biosurfactants are applied in the cosmetic and detergent industries as emulsifiers, solubilizers, wetting agents, foaming, dispersants, and penetration enhancers. In petrochemical fields, they are widely used for enhanced oil recovery. Moreover, glycolipids exhibit anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral activities.
Rhamnolipids
Rhamnolipids are anionic biosurfactants primarily produced by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They are among the most extensively studied biosurfactants due to their efficient production, short incubation periods, and easy microorganism cultivation. Their structure is determined by the composition of the rhamnose moiety (polar) and lipid moiety (apolar), as well as the carbon chain length (ranging from C8 to C24). The rhamnose moiety (polar part) consists of one or two di-L-rhamnose units, while the lipid moiety (apolar part) consists of saturated or unsaturated (mono- or polyunsaturated) β-hydroxy fatty acid chains. They are commonly produced via fermentation processes (i.e., submerged or solid-state fermentation) and separated through processes such as centrifugation or sedimentation. They are considered low or non-toxic biosurfactants, able to degrade with properties such as anti-adhesive, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-tumor, and emulsifying activities, making them applicable across industries including agriculture, medicine, food, cosmetics, detergents, biotechnological, and bioremediation applications. Additionally, rhamnolipids are used in applications such as:
- Transportation enhancers in nano-remediation;
- Degreaser formulation;
- Pesticides removal from contaminated soils;
- Ion collectors in ion flotation;
- Production of lipid-based antimicrobial nanomaterials;
- Bioremediation of marine oil spills;
- Natural nanocarriers of photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy for targeting abnormal cells and microorganisms.
Mannosylerythritol Lipids (MELs)
Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are non-ionic microbial biosurfactants and consist of a 4-O-β-d-mannopyranosyl-d-erythritol polar head group and hydrophobic tails comprising fatty acids and/or acetyl groups. They are commonly synthesized by fungi species such as Moesziomyces and Ustilago sp. or by yeast strains belonging to the Pseudozyma family (Figure 7). The chemical structure, fermentation process, and culture medium composition significantly influence MELs’ biological properties. The most common substrate used for MELs production is vegetable oils (i.e., olive, rapeseed, and soybean oils), often combined with glucose to maximize microbial growth and biosurfactant yield.
Lipopeptides
Another type of bacterial biosurfactant is lipopeptides that are biosynthesized by several bacterial microorganisms such as the Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus, Streptomyces, and Enterobacter species through multienzyme complexes called non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs).
The most common chemical structure of a lipopeptide is a lipophilic fatty acid chain (12 to 19 carbon atoms), linked together through an amide or ester bond with a hydrophilic peptide ring composed of 7-10 amino acids.
There are three important lipopeptide families (surfactins, iturins, and fengycins), which differ in amino acid composition and fatty acid chain length. These lipopeptide families are mainly produced by Bacillus subtilis bacteria.
These biosurfactants are applied in different sectors (i.e., chemical, agricultural, pharmaceutical, medicine, cosmetic, and food fields) due to their properties. Some of their usual applications are emulsifiers, solubilizers, anti-microbial activity, biocontrol agents, anti-fungal activity, plant defense stimulants, anti-tumor agents, and anti-viral and anti-bacterial agents.
Surfactin
Surfactin is a low-molecular-weight biosurfactant (1036 Da) composed of a cyclic heptapeptide (seven amino acid residues such as L-Glu1-L-Leu2-D-Leu3-L-Val4-L-Asp5-D-Leu6-L-Leu7) and a long β-hydroxy acid chain (12-16 C atoms) linked via a lactone bond. It is primarily produced by the Bacillus species through microbial fermentation or chemical synthesis. This biosurfactant was first identified in 1968 in cultures of Bacillus subtilis strains.
Surfactin can be applied across multiple industries, including agriculture, cosmetics, food, medicine, and petroleum. It acts as an antibiotic for human and plant health and is considered the most effective biosurfactant in reducing surface tension at a low CMC. It can reduce surface tension from 72 to 27 mN/m at a CMC of 20 mg/L, enabling the use of low concentrations in practical applications. This biosurfactant, at high concentrations, shows anti-bacterial effects but has fewer anti-fungal properties than other lipopeptide biosurfactants.
Some of the most common functions used in different sectors are shown in Table 5.
| Sector | Functions |
| Cosmetics | Anti-bacterial, emulsifying, washing, foaming, solubilizing, wetting, penetrating, dispersion, and low-toxicity characteristics. |
| Medicine | Anti-tumor, anti-virus and anti-inflammatory activities, anti-biofilm agent, immunosuppressive activity and maintenance of gastrointestinal homeostasis. |
| Agriculture | Biocontrol agents for plant diseases, systematic resistance in plants and promote plant growth and development. Formation of biofilm on plant roots. |
| Food | Additive for food processing and formulations due to their larvicidal, anti-adhesive and antimicrobial agents. |
Conclusions
The search for new natural substrates for the production of various everyday products is not only an important topic for the scientific community, but also for industries aiming to mitigate risks for living beings and the environment. Natural surfactants play a significant role due to their renewable origins and huge properties, including biological functions, which broaden their application across multiple sectors. However, their production cost is higher compared to conventional surfactants primarily due to the sensitivity of natural substrates to the environmental conditions during plant cultivation or microbial culture, extraction, and purification processes, leading to variability in biosurfactant (or bio-based surfactant) yields. Despite this, the valorization of bio-waste from different industries, growing environmental concerns worldwide, and the continuous development of new production technologies are helping to bridge the gaps associated with biosurfactant limitations, making them a safer choice for the formulation of new products. Furthermore, the adoption of green chemistry principles by industries and research into the environmental impacts of different natural surfactants are advancing the industrial-scale production of more sustainable natural surfactants.
In agriculture: The surfactant can be used insolubilization, wetting, emulsification, foaming. Dora presents the natural surfactants to meet the standard of organic agriculture, ensure the organic throughout.
For additional insights into agricultural surfactant options, refer to the Dora surfactant series.
