What is a surfactant?
A surfactant is a surface active agent that lowers the surface tension between 2 liquids, or between a liquid and a solid, or between a liquid and a gas.
Detergency market is the largest user of surfactants. But, it has many other applications such as in cosmetic, oil extraction, agro-chemistry, construction, bitumen, lubricant and water treatment.
30,64 billion $-US is the estimate of the global surfactant market in 2016. Moreover, the projection for 2021 is 39.86 Billion $-US. Therefore, a CAGR of 5,4% between 2016 and 2021.
What is a 100% green surfactant?
A surfactant is always composed of an hydrophilic head, and a lipophilic tail. A 100% bio-based surfactant is composed with both a bio-sourced head and a bio-sourced tail. It represents today 5% of the total surfactant market globally. It is the most dynamic segment, growing by more than 20% per year.
A green surfactant is not only limited to bio-based raw material sourcing, it is also about manufacturing process. SurfactGreen is striving to apply the principles of the Green Chemistry in the development of its surfactants. These principles go beyond concerns over hazards from chemical toxicity and include energy conservation, waste reduction, and life cycle considerations such as the use of more sustainable or renewable feedstocks and designing for end of life or the final disposition of the product.
By applying the principles of the Green Chemistry we are able to develop unique, safe and sustainable surfactants.
Prevent waste
Our process generates extremely low residue / by-product production.
Design for degradation
All our raw materials are readily biodegradable and our surfactants are all readily biodegradable.
Maximize Atom Economy
Chemical processes must be designed to incorporate the maximum of the atoms of the starting materials in the final molecule. The atomic saving of SurfactGreen solutions are from 80% to 95%.
Use safer solvents
We don’t use solvent in any of our processes.
| Industry segment | E factor (kg waste per kg product) |
|---|---|
|
SurfactGreen |
< 0.5 |
|
Bulk chemicals |
< 1 - 5 |
|
Fine Chemicals |
5 - 50 |
|
Pharmaceuticals |
25 - 100 |
