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Press release
Düsseldorf, July 27, 2010
Fungi, yeasts and bacteria produce active ingredients for laundry and home care
products
White Biotechnology for Everyday Household Items
Fungi, yeasts and bacteria – for some they may sound like a list of the most
feared of pathogens, but for others they constitute living mini-factories capable
of producing substances such as enzymes, citric acid and, lately,
biosurfactants. “White Biotechnology” is the scientific term for industrial-scale
production of substances with micro-organisms in closed systems. Indeed,
without this technology, laundry and home care products would be
significantly different than what we see today – because it is being used to an
ever increasing degree in the manufacture of their key ingredients.
White Biotechnology is the banner under which biology and technology join forces.
Unlike in a chemicals factory, the conversion work here is done by micro-organisms
such as fungi, yeasts and bacteria. As they are able to produce the required
substances from renewable raw materials such as molasses, starch or plant-derived
oils, this form of production is environmentally compatible. It serves to conserve fossil
energy sources and, ultimately, helps protect the climate – for the biological process
itself is also very energy-efficient and takes place at low temperatures. Henkel uses
these “mini-factories” to create important ingredients for its laundry and home care
products. Laundry detergent enzymes and citric acid have long been established. But
now they are being joined by biosurfactants as well.
Biosurfactants
Biosurfactants are wash-active substances with a biological provenance. Surfactants
provide the “adhesive” interface between the water and grease molecules, facilitating
the process of dislodging soil particles from the wash or some other surface.
Biosurfactants are manufactured through the action of yeasts or bacteria on
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renewable raw materials. Not only are they environmentally compatible, they are also
ideal for cleaning glass, as Henkel’s researchers have found out. The residue
behavior is better than that achieved with conventional surfactants. In Instanet, Bref
and Sonasol, therefore, they are ensuring an even better smear-free shine.
Enzymes
These biologically active substances perform important tasks within micro-organisms
and all living cells, by either enabling or accelerating chemical reactions between
molecules. They are manufactured with the aid of bacteria and have been part of the
White Biotechnology scene since the 1970s. Enzymes are used in laundry
detergents as a means of removing stains such as blood, cocoa or lipstick. They
make an important contribution to ensuring that laundry products such as Dixan, Le
Chat and Wipp Express are able to deliver outstanding results even at low wash
temperatures and with very little water.
Citric acid
Lemon juice contains between five and seven percent citric acid. And indeed, in the
past pure citric acid was laboriously extracted from lemon and lime juice. Today, a
special fungus does all the work to enable industrial-scale production. One of the
properties of citric acid is that it is a very effective limescale solvent. Consequently, it
is predestined for use in household cleaners – for example in Tenn, Bref or Sonasol.
For further information relating to White Biotechnology at Henkel, and related photo
material, please go to our website at: www.henkel.com/innovation.
Further material is available at http://www.henkel.com/press
Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business areas: Laundry &
Home Care, Cosmetics/Toiletries and Adhesive Technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel holds globally
leading market positions both in the consumer and industrial businesses with well-known brands such
as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel employs about 50,000 people and reported sales of
13,573 million euros and adjusted operating profit of 1,364 million euros in fiscal 2009. Henkel’s
preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX and the company ranks among the Fortune
Global 500.
Contact
Wulf Klüppelholz
Tel. +49 211 797 - 1875
Fax +49 211 798 - 4040
Dr. Ute Krupp
Tel. +49 211 797 - 5641
Fax +49 211 798 - 4040
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Corporate Communications
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