Cindy Yi: Renewable platforms for bio-based surfactants.

<p dir="ltr">Depletion of fossil fuels and rising awareness of the adverse effects of their use have made bio-based chemical platforms increasingly desirable. The valorisation of industrial waste streams, such as bark waste from forestry, is of particular interest, as value could be added to these low-value materials.</p><p dir="ltr">Surfactants are substances noted for their ability to lower surface tension and to form micelles. Their surface modification ability makes them versatile compounds, useful in both consumer products (such as detergents and food) and academic/industrial processes (cell lysis and mineral floatation). As they are used in large-scale processes as well as consumer goods, surfactant biodegradability is a major concern.</p><p dir="ltr">Levoglucosenone (LGO) is a heterocyclic compound derived from the acid pyrolysis of cellulose, a major biomass component. LGO can be waste-derived and shows promise as a potential bio-based surfactant head group. This presentation will discuss work towards the synthesis and characterisation of LGO-derived surfactants.</p>