Participating staff

• Prof. Dr. Christoph Syldatk
• Sascha Siebenhaller

Abstract

Biosurfactants consists of natural compounds and can be manufacture by chemically, enzymatic or by microbial processes.
As part of this project it should be evaluated, weather if it is possible, based on different lignocellulose fractions, the synthesis of novel, tailor made biosurfactants. This biosurfactants should be an ecological and economical alternative to previous products, which are petrochemical based or from renewable resources, which are in competition to food. 
To establish synthesis reactions and analytical methods for the biosurfactants production, the first reactions run with commercial available sugars or sugar alcohols and with different fatty acids or fatty acid vinyl esters. For the synthesis reaction literature known enzymes are used. Later in this project, different exposed lignocelluloses fraction provided by cooperation partners, should be used. This fraction can contain, depending on decomposition, various sugars, sugar alcohols and acids, terpenes or aromatic compounds. Tall oil, later maybe oil out of microalgae production, can be used, too.
Through enzymatic synthesis of biosurfactants there is a broad range for different products in cosmetics, pharmacy, food and personal care.
Synthesized biosurfactants will be characterized on the basis of thin layer chromatography, mass determination, NMR as well as their surfactant properties (cmc, HLB,… )
Another focus of the project is the use novel reaction medias, the so called “deep eutectic solvents” (DES), for the biosurfactants synthesis. DES have a lot of advantages over other water-free reaction medias like organic solvents and can be adjusted for reaction demands.