Properties
Rhamnolipids are a biosurfactant. A biosurfactant is a naturally produced surfactant.
A surfactant is a molecule that is has both a hydrophilic end, which attracts water, and a hydrophobic end, which repels water and attracts non-polar chemicals. Most surfactants, including rhamnolipids, are also amphiphilic, meaning that they have a hydrophilic end and lipophilic end. The Lipophilic end is attracted to oils. Surfactants are chemicals that reduce the surface tension of water.
Surfactants help as wetting agents, emulsifiers, and foaming agents and are used in soaps and wetting agents in sprays. Rhamnolipids, being amphiphilic, are an organic solvent, which means they can break up and absorb oils and fats into water.
Rhamnolipids are temperature stable up to and over the boiling point of water.
Rhamnolipids have a slightly soapy smell.
In an aqueous solution, rhamnolipids are transparent with a light to dark amber tint. In purified form they are white and have a slippery feel.
Rhamnolipid biosurfactants can operate in extreme conditions such as temperature, pH, and salinity. They are non-toxic, and biodegradable.
Rhamnolipids have both useful chemical properties as well as useful biological properties.