Other Applications
Agriculture/Horticulture
Rhamnolipids have been approved for use in biopesticide formulations. Rhamnolipids have shown activity against both fungal and insect pathogens in controlled studies. They have also been used as an adjunct in the composting of green waste to generate fertilizers.
Biofilm Disruption
Rhamnolipids are ideal as anti-adhesive and biofilm disrupting agents. Rhamnolipids have been shown to cause significant disruption of bacterial species in vitro. They have also proven to be effective in preventing or slowing the formation of, or accelerating dispersal of biofilms. Rhamnolipids can delay the adhesion of food pathogenic bacteria even in nutrient rich environments, making them an ideal food preservation additive. Because rhamnolipids have amphipathic properties, the presence of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties allows rhamnolipids to concentrate at physical interfaces and alter prevailing interactions.
Biofuel
Rhamnolipids have applications in the biofuel industry where they can be used to improve the hydrolysis of rice and wheat straws. Rhamnolipids can also increase the activity of cellulases leading to greater formation of sugar for bioethanol production.
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) Cleaning
Our experts have developed a very effective liquid-based DPF cleaning technology that produces significantly better results—up to 10x better—than the industry standards. AGAE has developed an all-natural, green solution for liquid cleaning of DPFs. Our solution is non-flammable, non-corrosive and environmentally friendly. It is also water-based and causes no chemical reactions with the DPF substrate. It works on the basis of physical interactions to reduce the interfacial tension between the diesel exhaust particulate matter and the DPF substrate, making it more soluble for easy removal during flushing. If you are currently using liquid-based DPF cleaning machines that utilize high-pressure, agitation and high-temperature, our cleaning solutions may be an excellent fit and can greatly improve your cleaning results.
Take a look at one of our clients feedback on AGAE's DPF cleaning solution:
Conclusion:
After introducing 9 filters and 4 EGR coolers to the AGAE solution in our ultrasonic tanks and grading them in the Xtractor I am pleased to conclude that the AGAE product worked as advertised, in fact cleaned to a higher level than our current solution. After cleaning these assets it was determined that the solution was showing some signs of depletion of cleaning strength but was still working and could be used with an increase in cleaning time in the tank.
2 assets worth pointing out, a filter and an EGR cooler were cleaned to our customer’s satisfaction when no other cleaning method was found to work. These 2 assets were some of the worst fouled assets we have seen. The assets were originally sent to a competitors cleaning facility but were returned as scrap as they couldn’t be cleaned. They have now both been reinstalled in the customer’s rolling stock and have saved the customer from having to purchase new parts. These 2 outliers were in the solution considerably longer than the regular cleaned ones but with them being “unclean able” any other way the customer was very pleased with the end result.
Waste Water Treatment
Rhamnolipids have multiple applications in the wastewater treatment field. They can improve the efficacy of oily wastewater treatment by increasing the accessibility of oil residues in activated sludge reactors. Rhamnolipids emulsify oil particles, increasing the surface area that microbes can access and the rate at which they are broken down. Rhamnolipids are also effective at treating wastewater contaminated with heavy metals, with numerous studies demonstrating their efficacy at binding heavy metal ions.
Oral Care
Rhamnolipids have demonstrated efficacy in oral hygiene applications. Multiple studies have shown their effectiveness against both harmful oral bacteria and the biofilm plaques they produce. The same properties that give rhamnolipids their powerful cleaning properties also make them excellent for eliminating oral biofilms while remaining non-toxic.