Industrial Perspectives for (Microbial) Biosurfactants

Within the bio-economy, more specifically within the bio-based industries, biomass feedstock - in contrast to fossil feedstocks in the fossil-based economy - is converted into the so-called bio-based products such as biosurfactants, bioplastics, pharmaceuticals, paper, textiles, and biofuels using either chemical or biological production methods or a combination thereof. In Europe a turnover of 60 billion EUR is associated with bio-based plastics and chemicals such as biosurfactants, and 40% of the global biosurfactant market turnover is associated with the European market. The growing use of bio-based surfactants in detergents, personal care products, and oilfield chemicals is fueling the growth of this market, which is driven, in many applications, by more stringent regulations and by an increasing consumer demand for "green and sustainable" products. Microbial biosurfactants are a biologically produced type of bio-based surfactants which are quickly evolving from a scientific curiosity to an industrial reality.