Locus Ingredients’ 100% Bio-based Surfactants is Now TSCA Listed

The biosurfactants provide formulators in consumer and industrial applications—including cleaning, CASE, paints and inks, agriculture, metalworking and more—a sustainable alternative to traditional petrochemical surfactants with enhanced performance.

Many traditional industrial products, including cleaners and detergents, are seeing reduced efficacy as stricter regulations limit the use of powerful but environmentally harmful ingredients like phosphates and solvents. As a result, these products are less effective in applications such as deep cleaning and stain removal.

Locus Ingredients' novel sophorolipids offer a wide range of functionality and can either enhance the performance of existing petrochemical-based surfactants or be the foundational surfactant for fully sustainable and eco-friendly products. These sophorolipids are made from responsibly sourced, renewable resources and produced with a low-carbon footprint.

'The expanded TSCA registration allows Locus Ingredients, and our parent company, Locus Fermentation Solutions, to meet the growing demand for 100% bio-based solutions in both consumer and industrial markets,' said Jason Clark, SVP for the Locus Ingredients division. 'This milestone highlights vital progress for Locus and the rapidly expanding biotech industry. It solidifies our position as the leading domestic biosurfactant supplier.'

Amphi® sophorolipid biosurfactants have unique attributes that improve performance in various industrial applications like cleaning, degreasing, biofilm removal, corrosion resistance and metalworking fluids. These novel ingredients are proven to enhance penetration, dispersion and suspension properties of end products.

The ingredient line offers formulators flexibility with a range of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and foaming options. One of the most appealing features is the ability to match-pair blend the biosurfactants, enabling custom solutions for solvency and detergency challenges in cleaning applications. Additionally, Amphi® sophorolipids are multifunctional and can act as an emulsifier, wetting agent, solubilizer or coalescing agent in addition to its detergency properties.

'Market-ready, TSCA-certified ingredients, like our Amphi® line can streamline time-to-market for formulators while offering reduced use rates, lower in-formula costs and superior performance,' added Clark. 'We pride ourselves in developing products that are safer for the environment and end users.'

TSCA gives the EPA the authority to assess and regulate chemical risks to human health and the environment. Amphi®'s TSCA registration includes both linear and lactonic, hydrolyzed and non-hydrolyzed glycolipids for a wide range of consumer and industrial applications. The biosurfactants are certified for safe use in industrial and institutional cleaning, metalworking fluids, water treatment, coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers and more.

The entire biosurfactant line is USDA certified 100% Biobased and has EPA Safer Choice certification with additional approval for use in direct release products such as car wash, deck wash or boat cleaners. Ingredients approved for direct release must meet even more stringent guidelines as they bypass sewage treatment or septic systems and are released immediately into the environment.

Amphi® sophorolipid biosurfactants are non-GMO, palm oil-free and have the lowest residual oleochemical and free fatty acid content in the market. They are readily biodegradable with no formaldehyde or other Proposition 65 regulated chemicals.