Sophorolipids environmental profile

An unpublished cradle-to-gate life cycle analysis (LCA) study subcontracted to Vito (Mol, Belgium) tried to identify environmental bottlenecks of rhamnolipid and sophorolipid production and compare them with those of market reference surfactants according to the ISO 1404x series. Experimental data for the pilot plant scale were complemented with LCA data from the Vito database as well as literature data for the upscaled production scenario. In order to compare the environmental profile of these biosurfactants with market reference surfactants data were used from Zah and Hischier [18]. The Eco-Indicator 99 methodology [19] was used to determine environmental impacts. 

The environmental profile of sophorolipid synthesis in Figure 11.3 indicates that the biosynthetic phase and in particular the required electricity consumption accounts for 45-90% of all cradle-to-gate impact categories, whereas the sterilization of the reactor... 

Figure 11.4 Environmental profiles of sophorolipids and chemically produced surfactants.

Renkin, M. (2003) Environmental profile of sophorolipid and rhamnolipid biosurfactants. Convention Giornate CID NolO, Milan, Italy, vol. 80, no. 4, pp. 249-252. 

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