Presentation Information
[2Biocat-01-KL]Utilization of versatile characteristics of sophorolipids in the development of home care and baby care products
○Glen Lelyn Quan1, Michiaki Araki1, Yuka Oda1, Yoshihiko Hirata1 (1. Saraya Research Institute, Saraya Co., Ltd. (Japan))
Keywords:
biosurfactant,sophorolipid,fermentation
Consumers generally prioritize health and safety when purchasing household products, a trend often heightened by concerns over personal well-being.1) With the heightened concern of potential health hazards of harsh chemicals in traditional cleaning agents, consumers gravitate towards safer products for their families and environment.
Skin and environmental issues caused by synthetic surfactants arose as early as the 1970s. Natural products appeared in Japan to combat these issues. Applying traditional fermentation technology in surfactant development, R&D on biosurfactant sophorolipids (SL) created from the fermentation of sustainable vegetable oil and glucose with natural yeast Starmerella bombicola, its applications in home care products took place as early as the 2000s.
To utilize SL in the development of home care and baby care products, the following were checked: surfactant residual test, cytotoxicity test and skin irritation test for human safety; biodegradability and aquatic toxicity test for environmental safety.
Surfactant residual test results confirmed that SL alone showed the least residual adsorption rate and was able to reduce residues of chemically synthesized surfactants, exhibiting excellent rinsability. The cytotoxicity and skin irritation induced by SL were extremely low (log IC50 = 4.76 mg/L) and equivalent to those of solvents and oils used in home care and personal care products.2) Biodegradability tests showed that after 28 days, the biodegradability of SL reached 100%, indicating that SL are readily biodegradable. For the aquatic toxicity tests, the EC50 of SL >473 mg/L was found in P. subcapitata, LC50 of 64.8 mg/L in O. latipes, EC50 of 48.2 mg/L in D. magna, with aquatic surface tension of 39 mN/m in O. latipes and to 41 mN/m in D. magna, exhibiting SL has low cytotoxicity with surface activity.3)
The excellent rinsability of SL helps prevent skin issues that may arise from residual surfactants. Their mildness and high environmental compatibility make them suitable safer alternatives for home care and baby care products, contributing to the consumers’ personal well-being.
References
1) NIQ Analysis Report. October 2024.
2) Kumano et al. J. Oleo Science, 73, 1169-1175 (2024).
3) Kumano et al. J. Environ. Biol., 40, 595-600 (2019).
Skin and environmental issues caused by synthetic surfactants arose as early as the 1970s. Natural products appeared in Japan to combat these issues. Applying traditional fermentation technology in surfactant development, R&D on biosurfactant sophorolipids (SL) created from the fermentation of sustainable vegetable oil and glucose with natural yeast Starmerella bombicola, its applications in home care products took place as early as the 2000s.
To utilize SL in the development of home care and baby care products, the following were checked: surfactant residual test, cytotoxicity test and skin irritation test for human safety; biodegradability and aquatic toxicity test for environmental safety.
Surfactant residual test results confirmed that SL alone showed the least residual adsorption rate and was able to reduce residues of chemically synthesized surfactants, exhibiting excellent rinsability. The cytotoxicity and skin irritation induced by SL were extremely low (log IC50 = 4.76 mg/L) and equivalent to those of solvents and oils used in home care and personal care products.2) Biodegradability tests showed that after 28 days, the biodegradability of SL reached 100%, indicating that SL are readily biodegradable. For the aquatic toxicity tests, the EC50 of SL >473 mg/L was found in P. subcapitata, LC50 of 64.8 mg/L in O. latipes, EC50 of 48.2 mg/L in D. magna, with aquatic surface tension of 39 mN/m in O. latipes and to 41 mN/m in D. magna, exhibiting SL has low cytotoxicity with surface activity.3)
The excellent rinsability of SL helps prevent skin issues that may arise from residual surfactants. Their mildness and high environmental compatibility make them suitable safer alternatives for home care and baby care products, contributing to the consumers’ personal well-being.
References
1) NIQ Analysis Report. October 2024.
2) Kumano et al. J. Oleo Science, 73, 1169-1175 (2024).
3) Kumano et al. J. Environ. Biol., 40, 595-600 (2019).
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