Abstract

In this new section, the author will provide a year-to-date list of published patents and application patents that disclose technology associated with the development of largely bio-based (plant-derived) consumer products. Patents are chosen that highlight bio-based technology platforms that will lead, in the authors opinion, to materials useful in the development of household and personal care products. The author will provide examples that include novel household and personal care formulation and packaging patents; and will make succinct comments for each patent rather than reproduce the entire abstract. This section is useful for household and personal care product formulators and makers of packaging materials for identifying new bio-based technology platforms and potential chemical and plastic raw material suppliers. Note that not all new technology platforms are revealed via patents alone and that the reader is encouraged to perform a literature search to uncover additional bio-based technologies.
Patent data is provided via the European Patent Office database (http://worldwide.espacenet.com). Note that in this database, US application patents numbers have 10 digits. The United States Patent Office application patent numbers are 11 digits. To convert, simply add a “0” after the fourth digit. For example, 2013085285 in the EPO database would become 20130085285 in the USPTO database.
In this article, the patent examples will be listed according to category such as biosurfactants, bio-based solvents, and biopolymers/plastics; and specified by title, applicant names and patent number as it appears in the EPO database.

BIOSURFACTANTS

Sophorolipids & Ramnolipids are bio-based surfactants, which are expected to have growing applications in household detergents and possibly personal care deodorants. These following patents provide examples of improved ways to manufacture sophorolipids.

CELLS, NUCLEIC ACIDS, ENZYMES AND USE THEREOF, AND METHODS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SOPHOROLIPIDS
Applicant: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH [DE] Publication info: US2013035403 (A1)  IMPROVED SOPHOROLACTONE PRODUCTION Applicant: ECOVER BELGIUM N V [BE] Publication info: BE1019942 (A3)

TERPENES, AROMA CHEMICALS AND ESSENTIAL OILS
Terpenes are made typically via extraction of plant matter and/or petrochemical synthesis. They find applications as aroma chemicals in the fragrance industry and as cleaning solvents. There are also terpenes being made via fermentation, such as farnesene and nootkatone, technology assigned to Amyris and Allylix respectively. Vanillin, like terpenes, can be made via multiple routes; a biosynthesis patent to IFF is presented. Essential oils are aroma extracts and distillates of plant matter. Th ...