Enzymes fatty amide surfactants

This class of compounds is covered by a large number of application and formulation patents. Such surfactants are claimed to have superior cleaning efficiency with respect to oily/greasy and enzyme-sensitive soils. Glucamides are polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, having the typical Structure D shown in Figure 14.20. 

Biocatalysis has been used for synthesis of surfactants with different hydrophilic groups that are linked to the hydrophobic fatty chain via ester, amide or glycosidic bonds. Among the most crucial parameters to be considered for enzymatic synthesis are the different solubility characteristics of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic reactants. The use of hydrophilic solvents for increasing the solubility of hydrophilic components increases the toxicity of the medium and affects enzyme activity. An alternative would be to modify the hydrophilic moiety in order to increase its solubility in the hydrophobic component. Solubility may also be improved by increasing the temperature, for which the use of thermostable enzymes would be beneficial. Various groups of surfactanfs for which enzymafic synthesis has been applied are described below. 

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