INNOVATIONS IN RENEWABLE CHEMICAL FRONTIER: BIOSURFACTANTS Abdul Rashid Mohd Yatim1, Wan Nur Fatihah Wan Muhammad Zulkifli1, Yeong Shoot Kian1, Zainab Idris1 1Advanced Oleochemical Technology Division (AOTD), Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), 43000 B.B. Bangi, Malaysia. Email:
[email protected]
ABSTRACT Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has developed a patented novel pulse feeding fermentation technique to be able to increase production yields of palm-based biosurfactant. With the abundant supply and easy attainment of palm oil, biosurfactants produced in Malaysia would have a big competitive edge.
INTRODUCTION • • • •
Only 207 patents for biosurfactant were granted between 1990-2000. Patents have more than quadrupled between 2008 to 2018 wherein 904 patents were granted . Globally, keu biosurfactants producing companies have increased from 5 in the 1990s to 17 companies. They are big players and also many start-up companies - Evonik, Saraya, Ecover, Agae Technologies, Logos Technologies, MG Intobio, TeeGene Biotech Ltd, Soliance, Henkel, Lion Corp, Synthezyme LLC, Jeneil Biosurfactant , Lipo Chem, Fraunhofer, Rhamnolipid Inc, Cognis and Kaneka. • In the Malaysian scenario, palm-based biosurfactants have a significantly important role as a very high value added source for natural renewable chemicals. Patents granted and papers published on Biosurfactant from 1970 to 2018
RESULTS AND OUTCOME • MPOB has extensively studied three types of palm-based biosurfactants; Sophorolipid (SL), Rhamnolipid (RL), Mannosylerythritol Lipid (MEL) . • MPOB has patented a novel pulse feeding fermentation technique (PFFT). • Benefits of PFFT are very high yields and productivity (example: 26 kg SL / 100 L / batch), environment friendly and energy saving bioprocess, commercially viable : ROI of 58% with payback period of 3 years for SL, products are sulphate and phosphate free.
1st Gen Biosurfactant: SOPHOROLIPID
Selected microbes as biofactory for specialty oleochemicals
2nd Gen Biosurfactant: Rhamnolipid
3rd Generation Biosurfactant : MEL
CONCLUSION • Palm oil export earning trend for Malaysia has been on the decline as a result of steep competition from Indonesia. • Malaysia must embark in large scale production of high value addition renewable specialty oleo ( ex. Biosurfactants) which can give 10-30 % profit margin, and thus sustain high export earning. Trend for Malaysia and Indonesia Palm Oil Export Profit margins in oleochemicals value chain
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We would like to thank the Director General and management of Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) for permission to present this work.
