Les agro-tensioactifs

• Main Author: Vandeputte Jacky
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2012-03-01
• Series: Oléagineux, Corps gras, Lipides
• Subjects: agro-based surfactants; market; regulation; renewable raw materials; properties
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/ocl.2012.0431

Thanks to their hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail, surfactant molecules offers wetting, solubilizing, detergency and emulsifying properties, interposing themselves between water and water-insoluble substances. Main surfactant applications are washing/cleaning, and cosmetics; these sectors use more than 50% of the total amount of surfactants produced. In recent years a continuous trend towards surfactants based on renewable ressources, the agro-based surfactants, has become apparent. Here is an overview of the market, the regulation, the major renewable raw materials used and the agro-based surfactants developped by oleochemistry. It shows that the use of vegetable fats and oils allows the development of competitive, powerful products, which are both consumer-friendly and environment-friendly.