03.17.22
Following a triple-digit million-euro investment to build a new biosurfactant plant in Slovakia, Evonik has launched the sustainable rhamnolipid Rewoferm RL 100.
The new biosurfactant meets the demand for low-emission, low-impact cleaning products that enable a circular economy, according to company officials. Rewoferm RL 100 is produced from locally-sourced, renewable feedstocks and is fully biodegradable while providing excellent cleaning performance.
Rewoferm RL 100 leverages the biotechnology platform of nutrition and care and supports the growth ambition of the division and the Care Solutions business line. The addition of the new rhamnolipid is a further step towards shifting the portfolio of Evonik’s life science division nutrition and care towards system solutions. Characterized by high growth prospects and above-average margin potential, nutrition and care aims to increase the share of system solutions it offers from 20% today, to more than 50 percent by 2030.
“With Rewoferm RL 100, we are entering a new era of surfactants to fulfil our customer needs today and tomorrow. Our unique production process with sustainable, all-natural ingredients yields a unique product,” said Yann d'Hervé, head of Evonik's Care Solutions business line.
Biosurfactants Manufactured Via Fermentation
Rhamnolipids are a class of biosurfactants which can be sustainably manufactured via a fermentation process using European corn sugar as the main raw material. This use of biogenic carbon requires no petrochemical raw materials or tropical oils. Rhamnolipids are fully biodegradable and have a low-impact life cycle. They are mild on the skin and have an exceptionally low toxicological and ecotoxicological profile, said the company.
The foam-forming properties of Rewoferm RL 100 make it suitable for use in a broad range of applications including laundry detergents, hard surface cleaners, vehicle care and cleaning formulations for the food and beverage industry. Rewoferm RL 100 also reduces the complexity of cleaning formulations because it can act as a primary and secondary surfactant.
The foam-forming properties of Rewoferm RL 100 make it suitable for use in a broad range of applications including laundry detergents, hard surface cleaners, vehicle care and cleaning formulations for the food and beverage industry. Rewoferm RL 100 also reduces the complexity of cleaning formulations because it can act as a primary and secondary surfactant.
With its well-established biosurfactant portfolio, the Care Solutions business line firmly cements its position as a sustainable specialties partner, while also further strengthening nutrition and care’s broad technology platform. The portfolio includes Rheance One for personal care applications and the sophorolipid Rewoferm SL One for cleaning solutions.