Bioprocessing Approaches to Synthesize Bio-based Surfactants and Detergents - Food and Industrial Bioproducts and Bioprocessing - page 237

reliability in their supply to be robust (Hayes, 2009). As a final note, sustainability is not
necessarily assured for all bio-based feedstocks. A particular concern is the loss of animal
habitat that results from increased acreage of oil-bearing crops and/or increased deforestation,
with increased acreage of palm oil in Malaysia and Indonesia serving as a case in point
(McCoy, 2007 ).
Since 2008, the price for crude petroleum has decreased due to the economic recessions
in many countries worldwide, which has led to decreased demand, leading to a wane in the
interest for bio-based surfactants. However, petroleum prices are expected to increase again
in the near future as economic recovery progresses. Therefore, it is anticipated that bio-
based surfactants will be economically viable in the near future.

10.2 FEEDSTOCKS FOR BIO-BASED SURFACTANTS

Both the hydrophile and lipophile of surfactants can be derived from bio-based feedstocks.
Figure 10.1 depicts the utilization of oleochemical feedstocks to manufacture food products,
biofuels, chemicals, and materials as one would envision occurring within an “oleochemical
biorefinery.” The latter term refers to the concept where an oleochemical (bio-based)
feedstock is utilized in a chemical facility, which through various processing and separations
schemes produces energy or fuel, chemical intermediates, materials, and other co-products,

Nutraceuticals &
food products

Sterols/minor
components

Alcohol-
amines

Proteins Amino acids

Ethanol (alcohols)
Sorbitol

Glucose
( sugars )

Meal

Biofuels

Polysaccharides
(starch)

Biosurfactants

Phospholipids

Lysolecithin

Oilseed
crops

Diethyl
carbonate

Soapstock Fatty amines

FFA

Fatty alcohols Carb-

onates

Refined
oil

FAME /
FAEE

Biodiesel

Propanediols

MAG / DAG

Chemicals
& materials

Polyglycerol

Glycerine

Glyceric acid

Figure 10.1 Process flow diagram of a possible oleochemical biorefinery to produce targeted chemicals,
materials, and fuels (underlined), indicating potential chemical intermediates useful for synthesis of bio-
based surfactants (italicized).