Rhamnolipid micelle structures in the presence of preservatives

In order to increase the sustainability of home and personal care (HPC) products there is great interest in the use of surfactants which are based on renewable raw materials, which are more biodegradable, of low toxicity and are not derived from fossil fuels. Rhamnolipids are a type of biosurfactant which are considered to be sustainable and are therefore of interest to industry. In order to utilise rhamnolipids in HPC products, their interactions with other formulation ingredients must be properly understood. We are undertaking a research project aimed at understanding how rhamnolipids behave in formulations with a focus on their interactions with other formulation ingredients, with the goal to tailor formulation of sustainable products with these interactions in mind. Here we wish to study the interactions between rhamnolipids and the preservatives used in HPC care products.