This lipopeptide biosurfactant (surfactin) is an amphiphilic molecule produced by Bacillus fermentation, made of a short hydrophilic peptide linked to a lipophilic acyl chain. It is one of the most effective surface-active compounds reported: at only 10 mg/L it lowers water surface tension from 72 mN/m to 27 mN/m, and its critical micelle concentration is below 10 mg/L, which means very little material is needed to act at an interface. It tolerates temperatures up to 121 °C and salinities up to 10,000 mg/L, and it is alkali tolerant up to 10% NaOH, which matters in alkaline frac and injection fluids. One limitation to plan for: it precipitates below pH 3, so in strongly acidic systems the selection has to be reviewed. Pilot fermentation on our own line reached 4.0–4.5 g/L in a 300 L fermenter on an 18 h cycle.
Applications
- Foam stabilisation and viscosity control in fracturing fluids
- Interfacial tension reduction for improved oil displacement
- Enhanced oil recovery where polymer retention is a problem
- Alkaline frac and injection fluid systems
Specifications
| Product code | Confirmed per site |
|---|---|
| Type | Lipopeptide biosurfactant (surfactin) from Bacillus fermentation |
| Appearance | Concentrated solution or dry powder |
| Surface tension reduction | Water surface tension from 72 mN/m down to 27 mN/m at 10 mg/L |
| Critical micelle concentration (CMC) | < 10 mg/L |
| Temperature tolerance | Up to 121 °C |
| Salinity tolerance | Up to 10,000 mg/L mineralisation |
| pH range | Alkali tolerant (10% NaOH); precipitates below pH 3 |
| Fermentation titre | 4.0–4.5 g/L in a 300 L pilot fermenter (18 h cycle) |
| Formulation | Concentrated solution or dry powder |
Note: specification values are confirmed against your target parameter or site data and stated in the quotation. We do not publish figures that our technical team has not confirmed — request the current technical data sheet and we will send it with our reply.
Documents
- MSDS (SDS) — current revision supplied with the quotation
- COA — issued per production batch, supplied with the shipment
Request the current MSDS or a batch COA through the contact form and we will send it by email.
Request a quotation
Send us the target parameter, effluent or reservoir data and the quantity required. Our application engineers will confirm the suitable grade, dosing guidance and packaging, and reply with a quotation stating the Incoterm and its validity.