Production of Rhamnolipid Biosurfactants for Application in the Production of Green Shampoos

The use of chemical surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate in detergents can cause various problems such as skin and eye irritation, nervous system disorders and cancer. Therefore, the use of biosurfactants due to their low toxicity and biodegradability has received much attention. In this study, the production of a green shampoo sample using rhamnolipid biosurfactant was investigated. First rhamnolipid bio-surfactant was produced from Pseudomonas arginosa PTCC 1340 with using of soybean oil as a carbon source in a laboratory scale of about 1.4 g/L and proved by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results of the retardation factors in TLC paper showed that a rhamnolipid mixture (type 1 and 3) was produced. The appearance, chemical and microbial properties of green shampoos were investigated by replacing produced rhamnolipids with sodium lauryl sulfate. By comparing the results with standard reference values, it was found that the properties of the green shampoo samples were in the standard range based on the formulation presented in this study. These results can be a step toward improving the quality of lifestyle of people's life in the community.