BioSurf is a Cariplo funded-project (ID 2020-1094) started on June 1st 2021.

AIM OF THE PROJECT

Developing a self-sustainable productive chain of bio-based surfactants (sugar fatty acid esters, SFAEs) by upgrading the main waste stream of dairy industry through a full biotechnological (fermentation- and enzyme-based) approach. This strategy will be applied along the value chain as a whole, from starting material production to the obtainment of the final product, as the result of setting-up an integrated platform (made of technologies and competences).

WHAT ARE SFAEs?

SFAEs, usually called sugar esters, are non-ionic surfactants which are characterized by excellent emulsifying, stabilizing and detergency properties. SFAEs are widely used in many market sectors (i.e. food, detergent, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry) having many advantages over petrochemical-derived surfactants as they are non-harmful to the environment, tasteless, odorless, fully biodegradable, and can be produced from renewable resources.

THE BIOSURF PROJECT IN A NUTSHELL

Producing esters of lactose and its hydrolysis products by exploiting whey permeate (WP). WP will be used both as the source of the carbohydrates, which constitute the hydrophilic head groups of the biosurfactants, and as an inexpensive fermentation substrate for oleaginous yeasts which can accumulate lipids (hydrophobic tail) rapidly and independently from seasons or climates. SFAEs will be enzymatically synthesized using immobilized biocatalysts both in batch and in flow reactors. SFAEs properties as emulsifiers will be tested. Market analysis of (bio)surfactants, LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) of the new bio-based surfactants, and the green chemistry metrics of the whole bioprocess will be performed.