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FAIR-CT96-3162
Novel fatty acids sugar esters for food and cosmetics |
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Type of Project | Demonstration |
| Contract No | FAIR-CT96-3162 | |
| Total Cost | 1,372,000 ECU | |
| EC Contribution | 791,000 ECU | |
| Start Date | 01/04/1998 | |
| Duration | 30 Months |
Novel fatty acids sugar esters for food and cosmetics
Objectives
Within the EC AIR research project AIR-CT94-2291 Production of sugar fatty acid esters from renewable agricultural resources: an integrated optimisation of enzymatic-purification processes and of surfactive properties, INPL developed an efficient enzymatic process for the synthesis of novel sugar esters based on the use of lipases. The carbohydrate surfactants, made of a hydrophilic sugar head group and a lipophilic fatty acid chain, constitute a novel family of non-ionic surfactants that can be used as detergents for washing purposes, as emulsifiers in food products and as active ingredients in personal care products such as shampoos, creams or soaps. Compared to chemically produced surfactants, enzymatically synthesised sugar esters show superiority in terms of product quality and purity, environmental compatibility and toxicological acceptability.
Technical Approach
The demonstration project aims at scaling up the enzymatic process for the production of the fatty acids sugar esters and to evaluate functional properties of the surfactants as food and cosmetic ingredients. First, the technical viability of the process based on the use of an immobilised lipase will be verified on sugar esters made from different sugars and fatty acids. Second, the physico-chemical and industrial properties of the sugar esters are to be evaluated in three selected application areas: cosmetics, bakery and ice cream. A major objective is to determine how these sugar esters compare with chemically synthesised surfactants, either alone or in combination. The production costs must also be established to further assess their market potential.
Expected Results
Role of Partners
The demonstration project associates five partners: INPL the inventor of the technology, PRABIL for the pilot-scale production of the surfactant, and three industrial partners, IRBD, PURATOS and MIO as potential industrial users of the sugar esters. INPL will provide the know-how for the production process of the novel fatty acids sugar esters, perform the control analysis, and determine the physico-chemical, environmental and ecotoxicological properties.
Exploitation Plans and Target groups for the Extended Audience
Each of the three industrial partners, IRBD, PURATOS and MIO, has the exclusive right to exploit the project results in his area of investigation. Besides INPL will seek partners to use sugar esters in additional application areas not covered by the present project. Future industrial production could be performed by one or several of the project partners or licensed to another industrial partner.
Data on the physico-chemical and environmental properties of the sugar esters will be most widely disseminated in order to promote efficiently the novel family of surfactants obtained through an enzyme technology. The extended audience includes the scientific and technical community in the areas of surfactants and biotechnology, and potential industrial users in areas not covered by the present project, especially detergency and food related areas. For the application areas covered by the project, the industrial partners pursuing the industrialisation of the sugar esters, may disseminate information on the product properties. They will address the appropriate institutions: food and health agencies, consumers associations.
Reactor for production of sucrose esters
Contacts
Coordinator
EC Scientific Officer
Participant
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Updated
by CPL Press:
03/07/2007
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