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PROCESS FOR THE AQUEOUS EXTRACTION OF BIOSURFACTANTS FROM CORN STEEP LIQUOR
WO/2020/234501
The invention relates to a process for extracting biosurfactants from the solid content in corn steep liquor, using a buffered aqueous solution having a pH of 6-8. The invention also relates to a biosurfactant extract obtained using the process of the invention, and to the uses of same in the cosmetics, food, pharmaceutical, agrochemical and environmental industries. The obtained biosurfactant has the form of a white powder with foaming capacity and is able to reduce water surface tension by at least 16-20 units.
La presente invención se refiere a un proceso para la obtención de biosurfactantes a partir de los licores de lavado de maíz (CSL), que comprende las etapas de: separación de la fase sólida de los CSL, y puesta en contacto de la fase sólida separada con una solución acuosa tamponada que tiene un pH de 6 a 8. El proceso de la presente invención es un proceso de extracción sólido líquido, mediante el cual la solución acuosa tamponada extrae los biosurfactantes presentes en los sólidos de los CSL. Por tanto, es necesario separar la fase sólida de la fase líquida que conforman los licores de maíz. Dentro del alcance de la presente invención,“fase sólida de los CSL” y“sólidos de los CSL” son sinónimos e intercambiables entre sí. The present invention refers to a process for obtaining biosurfactants from corn washing liquor (CSL), which includes the steps of: separation of the solid phase of the CSL, and contacting the separated solid phase with a buffered aqueous solution having a pH of 6 to 8. The process of the present invention is a solid-liquid extraction process, by which the buffered aqueous solution extracts the biosurfactants present in the solids of the CSL. Therefore, it is necessary to separate the solid phase from the liquid phase that makes up corn liquors. Within the scope of the present invention, “CSL solid phase” and “CSL solids” are synonymous and interchangeable with each other.