Description

Sodium surfactin is a peptide-lipid composed of amino acids and fatty acids, produced through the fermentation of Bacillus subtilis. This ingredient is known for its surfactant properties and is used in cosmetic products for its ability to enhance foaming and cleaning.

Chemical Composition and Structure:

Key Components:
Peptide-lipids: Composed of a chain of amino acids linked to a fatty acid chain, providing both surfactant and conditioning properties.
Amino Acids: Form the peptide part, contributing to micelle formation and cleaning.
Fatty Acids: Provide emulsifying properties and improve the solubility of active ingredients.
Structure: Surfactin is an amphipathic molecule with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts, facilitating foam formation and the solubilization of oils and dirt.

Physical Properties:

Appearance: White or slightly yellow powder, soluble in water.
Odor: Odorless or with a slight aroma that may vary depending on purity and production.
Consistency: Fine powder, soluble in water, capable of forming clear or slightly opalescent solutions.

Production Process:

Fermentation: Bacillus subtilis is fermented to produce surfactin.
Extraction: Surfactin is extracted from the fermentation broth.
Purification: Surfactin is purified to remove impurities and obtain a product suitable for cosmetic use.
Formulation: It is formulated into powder or solution, depending on the final application.

Applications:

Cosmetics: Used in cleansers, shampoos, and cleaning products to enhance foaming, cleaning, and the ability to remove dirt and oils.
Skincare: Improves product texture and facilitates the removal of impurities from the skin.

Safety and Environmental Considerations:

Safety: Generally regarded as safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products when used as directed. Individuals allergic to the ingredient or with very sensitive skin should be cautious and check product compatibility.
Environmental Impact: As a product derived from fermentation, its environmental impact depends on the sustainability of fermentation practices and resource management.

INCI:


Cleansing agent. Ingredient that cleanses skin without exploiting the surface-active properties that produce a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum.

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

Gel former. It acts as a viscosity enhancer to increase gel stability and is evenly distributed on a molecular scale as it can be engineered by the chemist at the molecular level. Definitely recommended in depilatories, foam baths.

Surfactant - Cleansing agent. Cosmetic products used to cleanse the skin utilise the surface-active action that produces a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum, facilitating the removal of dirt and impurities.
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