Natural Surfactants

Comprehensive guide to the fundamentals and growing range of commercial applications of natural surfactants

Natural Surfactants: Science, Technology, and Industrial Aspectsdiscusses the origin, production, physico-chemical properties, major producers, status, and opportunities of natural surfactants from macro- and microorganisms. The book presents the latest research in the field of natural surfactants, reviewing their advantages, current and future applications based on structure-performance relationships, and commercial uses in diverse industries including vaccines, food emulsifiers, feed additives, personal care formulations, pharmaceuticals, crop protection formulations, and soil remediation.

The book contains introductory sections on each of the major classes of natural surfactants with each section broken down into subclasses. It closes with a chapter on future perspectives, discussing hurdles and opportunities for natural surfactants.

Authored by experts in the field of surfactant science with experience in both academic research and industrial practices, Natural Surfactants includes information on:

• Feeding strategies in the production process of biosurfactants, covering pulse, constant, exponential, and feedback control feed rates
• Biological activity of saponins, covering antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and immunoadjuvant activity
• Chemical structure and properties of lecithin and existing applications of phospholipids
• Medium composition in fermentation conditions of rhamnolipids, covering carbon sources, macronutrients, and oligoelements
• Production costs, biodegradability, and toxicity of sophorolipids

Natural Surfactants contains essential knowledge on the subject for academic researchers and industry practitioners working in the field of surfactant science. The text is also valuable for universities, research institutes, and regional and multinational companies active in surfactants production and/or in formulation of surfactants.