Bio-based surfactants (Kao Bio IOS)
Surface-active agents from renewable sources, for example Kao's Bio IOS made by olefination, sulfonation and neutralisation of fatty alcohol — commercial scale, with North American volumes expected from 2026.
1 · What it gives
Bio-based surfactants, such as Kao’s Bio IOS, are surface-active agents from renewable biological sources with high water solubility and strong affinity for oil. Kao’s Bio IOS has reached commercial scale, with commercial quantities expected in North America from 2026. The global market for bio-based surfactants and biosurfactants is projected to reach USD 26 billion by 2032.
2 · What it replaces 6
| D1 | Biosurfactants (rhamnolipids, sophorolipids) instead of petrochemical surfactants in cleaning and industrial formulation Replaces: Petrochemical surfactants in cleaners and formulations - linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), alcohol ethoxylates (AEO), alkylphenol … | CHEM |
| D1 | Recovered phosphorus (struvite and other recovered phosphates from biological wastewater and digester streams) instead of fertilizer made from cadmium-bearing phosphate rock Replaces: A share of DAP/MAP/superphosphate made from mined phosphate rock; chemical P-removal with iron and aluminium salts at treatment plants … | AGROCHEM |
| D2 | Oil-reservoir and pipeline souring (H2S) control by nitrate injection (biocompetitive exclusion by nitrate-reducing bacteria) — instead of continuous biocide dosing Replaces: Glutaraldehyde, THPS (tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate), quaternary ammonium biocides, acrolein and other biocides injected into … | SERV |
| D1 | Baking enzymes (fungal amylase, maltogenic amylase, xylanase, glucose oxidase, lipase) plus ascorbic acid instead of potassium bromate and azodicarbonamide as flour treatment agents Replaces: Potassium bromate (KBrO₃) and azodicarbonamide (ADA) used as oxidizing flour improvers/dough conditioners; part of chemical emulsifier use … | FOOD |
| D1 | Biochar made by clean pyrolysis of crop, forestry and processing residues — used as a soil amendment and sold as durable carbon removal — instead of open burning, dumping or landfilling of those residues Replaces: Open burning of straw, husks, shells and prunings; dumping and landfilling of processing residues; traditional earth-kiln charcoal making … | AGROCHEM |
| D2 | Biodiesel, renewable diesel (HVO) and SAF instead of fossil diesel and heating oil Replaces: Fossil diesel in transport and generators; gas-oil heating; jet fuel (via SAF blends); also disciplines waste cooking oil and tallow that … | FUEL |
3 · How to implement 3 steps
- 1OlefinationOlefinate the fatty alcohol.
- 2SulfonationSulfonate the olefin.
- 3NeutraliseNeutralise with high-speed shearing.
4 · Who delivers
Matched suppliers (matched automatically)
| Soderal | Ecuador | Producer | active |
| Sunbird Group | Zambia | Producer | active |
| Incauca | Colombia | Producer | active |
| COFCO Biotechnology 中粮科技 (SZ 000930) | China | Research / RTO | active |
| Godavari Biorefineries (NSE) | India | Research / RTO | active |
| Jiangsu Boyang Bioproducts | China | Research / RTO | active |
| Meihua Biological 梅花生物 (SSE 600873) | China | Research / RTO | active |
| Musim Mas Group | Indonesia | Research / RTO | active |
| Shandong Bailong Chuangyuan (BLD Bio) | China | Research / RTO | active |
| Zhuoyue New Energy 卓越新能 (SSE 688196) | China | Producer | active |
| Adecoagro (NYSE: AGRO) | Argentina | Producer | active |
| Anaergia | Canada | Producer | active |
Leading companies and institutes (from the brief)
Kao Corporation and Pilot Chemical Co. are named as primary providers of the Bio IOS technology. Others are matched by the portal under Industrial chemistry.
5 · Rules & route to market
state registration ~10-15 working days after expert assessment; new substances need notification
Information, not legal advice — confirm the procedure for your product. (2026-10-06)
United States
The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no the US regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.
European Union
In the EU the REACH registration programme governs the assessment and safety of new surfactants.
China
The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no China regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.
6 · Money: tenders & grants
| Grant | Circular innovative advanced materials: facilitating the transition from design to markets (RIA) (Innovative … European Commission · EU | Feb 2, 2027 109 days |
| Grant | Exploring the frontiers of environmental research 2026 UKRI · United Kingdom | Nov 12, 2026 27 days |
| Grant | Technical innovation to protect ecosystems and to scale up their restoration European Commission · EU | Sep 22, 2027 341 days |
7 · Tech stack & innovations
Main risks from the sources: high cost of large-scale production, separation challenges, batch-to-batch variability, and concerns about toxicity or allergic reactions.
Sources 5
- Kao.com — www.kao.com 2026-10-16
- Kao.com — www.kao.com 2026-10-16
- Hydrocarbonprocessing.com — www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com 2026-10-16
- Cordis.europa.eu — cordis.europa.eu 2026-10-16
- Pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 2026-10-16