208
R. Tesser et al.
oleochemical surfactants replacing the petrochemical ones would cause a reduction
of 34% (reducing absolute emissions to 0.99 Mt) of the CO 2 emission. For surfactant
applications in laundry detergents, lowering wash temperatures is also an interesting
strategy to reduce CO 2 emissions [160].
Natural oleochemicals sugar-based surfactants (e.g. akyl polyglucosides) and
microbial surfactants (biosurfactants) are examples of such environmental-friendly
surfactants [222]. Bio-based surfactants can be classified as oleochemical surfactants,
saponins and biosurfactants. Oleochemicals comprise vegetable oils and animal fats.
Oleochemical surfactants including soaps are mainly made from fatty acids, fatty
alcohols or fatty amines using tallow, palm oil, palm kernel oil or coconut oil as
feedstock. Saponins are kind of natural soaps. They have antifungal and antibacterial activity and are produced by many plants to form part of the plant’s protection
against disease [184]. Anionic surfactants like cocomonoglyceride sulfate and the
non-ionic sugar surfactant alkyl polyglycoside are surfactants prepared of an oleochemicals origin which fit to be powerful, consumer and environment friendly. These
surfactants find its application in cosmetics [85]. Surfactants are the most important
oleochemical outlet for fatty acids in Europe as 200 kt of vegetable oil methyl ester
are produced annually as raw materials especially for surfactants [21].
Synthetic surfactant solutions containing short polyoxyethylene chains have been
shown to be highly toxic and may, therefore, have a major impact on aquatic life
due to the discharge of detergents into the environment. Environmentally, removing
detergent-like substances from wastewater before its discharge into aquatic systems
is a must, especially as legislated in Europe, as concerns the protection of aquatic
environments (Ecolabel, Blue Angel, Wasser Gafahrdung Klasse classification, etc.),
air quality (Kyoto Protocol, etc.); and toxicological protection (Biocide guideline,
European REACH project, etc.). That has enforced research to focus on replacing raw materials extracted from fossil fuels with organic products from forestry
and agriculture. These so-called ‘agromolecules’ are considered to be particularly
advantageous, as they are natural, non-toxic, biodegradable and renewable, with a
balanced carbon footprint. Considerable efforts are currently being made to promote
the use of agromolecules in developed countries, in which there is a clear industrial
market for alternatives to fossil fuels and their derivatives [87].
Concluding that, in the purpose of the protection of the environment, reduce the
greenhouse effects, reduce CO 2 emission, protect the aquatic environment, oleochemicals surfactants should replace the synthetic surfactants. In the following
section, we will present some applications of oleochemicals surfactants in various
fields from many resources.
8.2.2 Chemistry of Surfactants
Surfactants are an important class of chemical products capable to reduce surface
tension of liquids or the interface of liquid. The molecular structure of a surfactant
is characterized by the presence of both hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails.
R. Tesser et al.
oleochemical surfactants replacing the petrochemical ones would cause a reduction
of 34% (reducing absolute emissions to 0.99 Mt) of the CO 2 emission. For surfactant
applications in laundry detergents, lowering wash temperatures is also an interesting
strategy to reduce CO 2 emissions [160].
Natural oleochemicals sugar-based surfactants (e.g. akyl polyglucosides) and
microbial surfactants (biosurfactants) are examples of such environmental-friendly
surfactants [222]. Bio-based surfactants can be classified as oleochemical surfactants,
saponins and biosurfactants. Oleochemicals comprise vegetable oils and animal fats.
Oleochemical surfactants including soaps are mainly made from fatty acids, fatty
alcohols or fatty amines using tallow, palm oil, palm kernel oil or coconut oil as
feedstock. Saponins are kind of natural soaps. They have antifungal and antibacterial activity and are produced by many plants to form part of the plant’s protection
against disease [184]. Anionic surfactants like cocomonoglyceride sulfate and the
non-ionic sugar surfactant alkyl polyglycoside are surfactants prepared of an oleochemicals origin which fit to be powerful, consumer and environment friendly. These
surfactants find its application in cosmetics [85]. Surfactants are the most important
oleochemical outlet for fatty acids in Europe as 200 kt of vegetable oil methyl ester
are produced annually as raw materials especially for surfactants [21].
Synthetic surfactant solutions containing short polyoxyethylene chains have been
shown to be highly toxic and may, therefore, have a major impact on aquatic life
due to the discharge of detergents into the environment. Environmentally, removing
detergent-like substances from wastewater before its discharge into aquatic systems
is a must, especially as legislated in Europe, as concerns the protection of aquatic
environments (Ecolabel, Blue Angel, Wasser Gafahrdung Klasse classification, etc.),
air quality (Kyoto Protocol, etc.); and toxicological protection (Biocide guideline,
European REACH project, etc.). That has enforced research to focus on replacing raw materials extracted from fossil fuels with organic products from forestry
and agriculture. These so-called ‘agromolecules’ are considered to be particularly
advantageous, as they are natural, non-toxic, biodegradable and renewable, with a
balanced carbon footprint. Considerable efforts are currently being made to promote
the use of agromolecules in developed countries, in which there is a clear industrial
market for alternatives to fossil fuels and their derivatives [87].
Concluding that, in the purpose of the protection of the environment, reduce the
greenhouse effects, reduce CO 2 emission, protect the aquatic environment, oleochemicals surfactants should replace the synthetic surfactants. In the following
section, we will present some applications of oleochemicals surfactants in various
fields from many resources.
8.2.2 Chemistry of Surfactants
Surfactants are an important class of chemical products capable to reduce surface
tension of liquids or the interface of liquid. The molecular structure of a surfactant
is characterized by the presence of both hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails.