Biosurfactants for personal care applications

Monday, May 1, 2023

11:00 AM – 11:20 AM MDT

Room: 405

Presenting Author(s)

Janet McMillan, PhD

Associate Research Scientist
Dow
Midland, MI, United States

Co-Author(s)

YO

Ying O'Connor

Research Scientist
Dow, United States
Daniel S. Miller (he/him/his)

Research Scientist
The Dow Chemical Company
Collegeville, Pennsylvania, United States
BJ

Beth Johnson

R&D/TS&D Fellow
Dow, United States
SG

Shannon Golden

R&D Technologist
Dow, United States
YT

Yujing Tan

Research Scientist
Dow, United States
IV

Ingrid Vervier

TS&D Scientist
Dow, Belgium
BM

Bart Maxon

Senior TS&D Scientist
Dow, United States
CT

Christopher Tucker

Senior R&D/TS&D Fellow
Dow, United States
IV

Isabelle Van Reeth

R&D/TS&D Fellow
Dow, Belgium
KS

Kristen Steinbrecher

Associate R&D/TS&D Director
Dow, United States

Abstract: The structural diversity of biosurfactants derived from sustainable raw materials present unique challenges and opportunities for formulators of personal care products. Sophorolipids (SLs) are a class of glycolipid amphiphile produced via green fermentation processes using non-pathogenic strains of yeast. Dow Personal Care recently launched its EcoSense^TM GL-60 surfactant series, >99% bio-derived SL biosurfactant where the ratio of acidic to lactonic SL form can be precisely tuned via blending. The unique chemical structure and pH-responsive nature of SLs present exciting opportunities for formulators to tune their interactions with conditioning ingredients, co-surfactants, and natural oils to realize innovative product performance. This talk will summarize the interfacial properties and performance of SLs in combination with co-surfactants, conditioning ingredients and essential oils, and highlight key similarities and differences to alkyl polyglycoside technologies. Overall, our work demonstrates that SLs provide access to exciting and unusual phase behavior that can be leveraged to realize unique product concepts for personal care applications.