Detergents from renewable resources

Sugar based surfactants

Ingegärd Johansson

AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry

Sustainable chemistry 2030

Five companies with a common vison for the future:”2030 Stenungsund is the centre for production of sustainable products within the chemical industry. Our activity is based on renewable raw materials and energy and contributes to a sustainable society.

Earlier, now and in the future

2030• Only renewable raw material• All products contribute to sustainable development• All plastics we produce are recovered• West coast net for district heating and cooling • Biogas, bioethanol och biohydrogen is produced

2010• More raw material from renewable sources• Goals for lower output of CO2• District heating well established• Recovery of material and more sustainable products

1990•Raw material from fossil sources• Higher output per kilo produced•Lower demands from the environment and shorter lifetime for the products

?

Surface active agents = Surfactants

Hydrophilic Hydrophobic

Likes water Likes oil

Surfactants derived from renewable sources

Hydrophilic Hydrophobic

Carboxylic group

Glycerol, saccharides, phosphate, ammonia, urea,

Ethylene oxide from bio-ethanol

Fatty acids, alcohols, lignins, steroids, lecithins

protein hydrolysates

Alkyl (poly) glucosides

Hydrophilic Hydrophobic

Glucose

(from starch or cellulose)

Fatty alcohols

(from fatty acids i.e. from “fat”)

Classical synthesis of Alkyl Classical synthesis of Alkyl Glucosides, ”Fischer Glucosides, ”Fischer

glucosidation”glucosidation”

Work-up procedure for industrial (Fischer)

glucosidation

Neutralization, NaOH + Na2CO3

Evaporation of the excess alcohol (reused), risk for discoloration (caramellization and Maillard reaction)

Dissolution in suitable medium Bleach with alkaline hydrogen peroxide,

risk for oxidized by-products

By-products at AG-By-products at AG-productionproduction

Dealkylation and polymerization of glucose give poly saccharides

Dehydratization, gives unsaturated products e.g. hydroxymethyl furaldehyde, which may polymerize to coloured complex products

Oxidation of OH-functions give carboxylic acids. These may react with alcohol under acidic conditions resulting in esters. Under alkaline conditions, e.g. when being bleached, these get hydrolyzed and pH will go down.

Need for an enzymatic process?

Stereo specificity? Excess alcohol to avoid

polymerization? Easier work-up procedure? Are there enzymes capable of doing

this?

Greenchem results? Stereospecific syntheses works Difficult to get an efficient process with

cheap raw material Focus on specialties for specific purposes Ex. Long chain glucosides as emulsifiers

and solubilizers Applications interesting for AstraZeneca