1. The Rise of Bio-Based Innovation

Under the global momentum of carbon neutrality and green chemistry, the surfactant industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Traditional petrochemical surfactants, constrained by non-renewable resources and environmental concerns, are being replaced by bio-based, biodegradable, and low-toxicity alternatives.
Among them, rhamnolipids have emerged as a flagship representative of sustainable biosurfactants.

Rhamnolipids are natural glycolipid surfactants produced through microbial fermentation—typically using Pseudomonas aeruginosa or engineered microbial strains—with plant oils or sugars as carbon sources. Structurally composed of rhamnose sugars and fatty acid chains, they exhibit excellent amphiphilic properties and remarkable surface activity at low concentrations.

2. Superior Performance and Broad Applications

Compared with conventional synthetic surfactants, rhamnolipids offer multiple advantages:

•  Exceptional surface activity, reducing surface tension of water to as low as 25–30 mN/m;
•  Outstanding emulsifying and wetting ability, suitable for both oil-in-water and water-in-oil systems;Excellent biodegradability and eco-compatibility, with no skin irritation or aquatic toxicity;
•  High stability under salinity, heat, and pH variation, ensuring consistent performance in complex formulations.

These properties make rhamnolipids ideal for applications in personal care, household cleaning, agriculture, oil recovery, and biopharmaceuticals, among others.

3. Enabling Green Manufacturing and High-End Development

Advances in synthetic biology and biocatalysis have significantly improved the production efficiency of rhamnolipids, overcoming the historical barriers of high cost and low yield. The use of engineered microbial strains and continuous fermentation technologies has led to higher productivity and purity, while the product forms have evolved from simple liquids to high-purity powders, blended systems, and functional derivatives.

In high-end applications, rhamnolipids are now widely used in:

•  Premium skincare and cleansing products, providing mild cleansing and skin-barrier-friendly benefits;
•  Agricultural adjuvants, improving spray wetting and penetration efficiency;
•  Pharmaceutical and biomedical systems, serving as drug delivery agents or antimicrobial coatings.

4. Leading the Green Transition in the Surfactant Industry

The emergence of rhamnolipids marks a paradigm shift in the surfactant industry—from petrochemical-driven to biologically driven innovation. As a symbol of both performance and sustainability, rhamnolipids exemplify the future of green manufacturing.

Looking ahead, with further optimization of production economics and expanded application research, rhamnolipids are poised to become a core biosurfactant in the sustainable chemical ecosystem, driving the surfactant industry toward a cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally responsible future.