Bioinspired glycolipid surfactants: rhamnolipids and xylolipids in single and double chain variants
GlycoSurf produces high-purity, eco-friendly glycolipid biosurfactants including rhamnolipids and xylolipids in single-chain (C8, C14) and double-chain variants. Using a proprietary green chemistry synthetic approach rather than bacterial fermentation, the company delivers tailorable, biodegradable, and non-toxic surfactant molecules with purity exceeding 95%, serving personal care, agriculture, industrial cleaning, oilfield, and metals recovery applications.
Overview
GlycoSurf, Inc. is a chemical manufacturing company specializing in high-purity, eco-friendly glycolipid biosurfactants. The company offers a portfolio of bioinspired surfactants, including rhamnolipids and xylolipids in both single-chain and double-chain variants. Specific products include rhamnolipid-C8, rhamnolipid-C14, xylolipid-C8, and xylolipid-C14 single-chain molecules, as well as double-chain versions of these materials.
Unlike traditional biosynthetic production methods that rely on bacterial fermentation, GlycoSurf employs a proprietary synthetic manufacturing approach. This enables the design of targeted molecules that can be tailored for specific applications, offering greater scalability, lower costs, and consistent purity levels exceeding 95%. The products are biodegradable, non-toxic, and chemically customizable, providing a sustainable, high-performance alternative to conventional surfactants for formulators and product developers.
Technical specifications
Product offerings:
- Rhamnolipid-C8 (single chain)
- Rhamnolipid-C14 (single chain)
- Xylolipid-C8 (single chain)
- Xylolipid-C14 (single chain)
- Double-chain variants of all the above materials
Key features:
- Proprietary green chemistry synthetic approach, eliminating dependence on bacterial fermentation
- Purity levels consistently exceeding 95%
- Tailorable molecular design enabling customization for specific application requirements
- Biodegradable and non-toxic formulation
- ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing processes
Target applications:
- Personal care and cosmetics
- Agriculture
- Industrial and medical device cleaning
- Oilfield chemicals
- Metals recovery
- High-tech sectors requiring effective wetting, emulsification, and biofilm disruption
Technology readiness level
GlycoSurf's synthetic surfactant technology is commercially available and in active production. Founded in 2013 based on technology developed at the University of Arizona, the company maintains research and production capabilities in Salt Lake City, Utah. The manufacturing process has been validated through ongoing commercial sales, and the company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, demonstrating established quality management systems. Funding from Tech Launch Arizona and other sources has supported the development and scaling of these bioinspired surfactant products.
About GlycoSurf, Inc
GlycoSurf, Inc. is a chemical manufacturing company founded in 2013 that specializes in the production of high-purity, eco-friendly glycolipid biosurfactants. Based on technology developed at the University of Arizona, the company utilizes a proprietary synthetic manufacturing process to produce biodegradable, non-toxic, and tailorable surfactant molecules, including rhamnolipids, rhamnosides, xylolipids, and galactolipids. Unlike traditional biosynthetic methods that rely on bacterial fermentation, GlycoSurf’s synthetic approach allows for greater scalability, lower costs, and consistent purity levels exceeding 95%. Their products are designed to be chemically tailored to meet specific application requirements, providing a sustainable, high-performance alternative to traditional surfactants.
The company's surfactants serve a diverse range of industries, including personal care and cosmetics, agriculture, industrial and medical device cleaning, and high-tech sectors such as oilfield chemicals and metals recovery. By offering renewable, bio-based alternatives, GlycoSurf helps formulators improve efficiency and meet sustainability goals without compromising on performance. The company has demonstrated its commitment to quality through ISO 9001:2015 certification and maintains a robust research and production capability based in Salt Lake City, Utah, supported by funding from Tech Launch Arizona and other sources. Their molecules are utilized in applications requiring effective wetting, cleaning, emulsification, and biofilm disruption, solving key performance and environmental challenges for global customers and partners.
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