AGAE Technologies

Rhamnolipids & HAA

 

Understanding Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant: Plain-Language FAQs About This Remarkable Natural Ingredient and AGAE Technologies’ Role

 

Q1: Who is AGAE Technologies, LLC, and why is Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant such an important ingredient?

A1: We may be a small company, but our vision and the potential impact of our products are anything but small. We are a US-based manufacturing and innovative technologies company producing a natural chemical ingredient called “Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant” which has long been sought after for use in cosmetic, personal care and home care product formulations as well as in multiple other commercial applications.

For over 75 years, Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant has received more attention than any other biosurfactant ingredient from scientists seeking to find a safe, green, and effective natural surfactant to use in replacing toxic synthetic surfactants commonly found in everyday consumer products. Since 2011, AGAE Technologies has worked tirelessly in developing the complex technologies needed to bring Rhamnolipid to the world market and to become its leading manufacturer and global supplier. 

So yes—we are small, but we believe that big changes often start with small beginnings. We are excited to share how natural ingredient Rhamnolipid can contribute to a better future for everyone.

 

Q2: Why is Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant considered such a powerful and unique natural ingredient?

A2: What makes Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant so special? Just as tiny microchips power today’s smartest technologies, natural ingredient Rhamnolipid can power many of the products people use every day. For this reason, we refer to our Rhamnolipid as the “golden chip of the future” for the cosmetic industry. It has remarkable properties that help protect, heal, and nurture the skin.

Numerous scientific studies report properties such as gently moisturizing, kind but efficient wetting and cleansing agent, reducing wrinkles, supporting anti-aging, fighting bacteria, fungi and viruses, and even wound healing. 

Going beyond beauty, it is also about science meeting nature to improve lives. By making the Rhamnolipid ingredient more accessible and sustainable, our company is on a mission to change how the world experiences health, wellness, and personal care.

Rhamnolipid is truly remarkable. It is not a synthetic chemical made in a lab; it is a natural product that has always been part of our everyday lives. In fact, every time we eat fruit, vegetables, or other healthy foods, we may be consuming the basic components of Rhamnolipid: rhamnose sugar and fatty acids. Rhamnolipid is safe, gentle, and friendly to both people and the planet. 

So, when we say Rhamnolipid is a “green technology,” we mean it is not only good for the earth, but it is also good for people—safe, sustainable, and ready to change industries worldwide.

 

Q3: How does Rhamnolipid compare to synthetic chemicals used in everyday products?

A3: One of the biggest challenges in cosmetics, personal care and home care today is that so many products still rely on synthetic chemicals, some of which are even petroleum-based. These ingredients may work, but they often come with hidden costs, such as skin irritation, allergic reactions, and other side effects. And because some of them do not break down naturally, they can be a source of long-term pollution.

This is where Rhamnolipid makes a real difference. It is a natural ingredient that performs just as well—and sometimes even better—than many synthetic chemical surfactant. It can stabilize, moisturize, emulsify, or protect in exactly the way formulators need, but without the risks. And because it is completely biodegradable and renewable, it does not harm the environment.

In simple terms: Rhamnolipid gives manufacturers the best of both worlds—the performance they need and the safety consumers demand. It is the kind of ingredient that allows companies to move away from petroleum-based, toxic materials and towards a future that is healthier, greener, and more sustainable.

 

Q4: What makes Rhamnolipid such an effective natural emulsifier, and why does that matter for everyday products?

A4: Oil and water. No matter how hard you stir them, they just won’t mix. But with Rhamnolipid, they do. Rhamnolipid is a green surfactant with the natural ability to bring together two things that usually remain separate. In science, we also call this an emulsifier.

This might sound technical, but you see it every day. Soaps, lotions, and skincare products rely on emulsifiers to feel smooth and effective. Without them, creams would separate in the jar, and shampoos would not work the way we expect.

And the uses go far beyond cosmetics, personal care and home care. Rhamnolipid is also valuable in industries such as agriculture (e.g. green adjuvants, stimulants, organic fungicide and fertilizer additives), oil and gas (e.g. enhanced oil recovery), pharmaceuticals (e.g. topical therapeutics), and even environmental remediation (e.g. cleaning up of mutagenic and cancerogenic substances and other chemical contaminations). Whether it is making a stable skincare cream, a safe agricultural spray, or a reliable medicine, Rhamnolipid helps create the right mix so products actually work.

And what makes Rhamnolipid unique is that it does all this naturally, replacing harsh, petroleum based emulsifiers that can irritate skin or harm the environment. So, it is not just about mixing oil and water. It is about making everyday products safer, greener, and more effective across industries.

 

Q5: Why is Rhamnolipid safer and more environmentally friendly than synthetic surfactant ingredients?

A5: Many of the synthetic surfactant ingredients used in today’s cosmetics, personal care, home care, and industrial cleaning products are made from petroleum or other harsh chemicals. While they might be effective in their use, many of them do not break down in nature, and some can cause skin problems and raise safety concerns. 

In contrast, Rhamnolipid is made by nature, not by oil refineries or chemical plants. It is safe enough that people may consume it every day in fruits and vegetables. It is gentle and kind on the skin, non-toxic, and completely biodegradable. That means when products containing Rhamnolipid are washed down the sink or shower, they do not linger in the environment or harm ecosystems.

Comparing synthetic surfactant ingredients with natural Rhamnolipid, the advantages are clear. Rhamnolipid delivers the same high-level performance companies and consumers need, but with the added assurance of consumer safety and planet compatibility. This is why Rhamnolipid is a true game-changer for industries and consumers alike.

 

Q6: If Rhamnolipid is so safe and effective, why hasn’t it been widely used until now?

A6: If it is so safe and effective, why hasn’t Rhamnolipid been used in the past? The problem has been that even though scientists knew about the amazing benefits of Rhamnolipid for over seven decades and were saying “This is what we should be using instead of harsh synthetic chemicals,” it was almost impossible to produce in large quantities. The technology to do so just wasn’t available. In addition, producing Rhamnolipid was expensive, inefficient, and full of roadblocks.

This is where AGAE Technologies stepped in. With our innovative manufacturing technologies, we have overcome the many long-standing hurdles that have prevented companies from manufacturing Rhamnolipid and are now making it available on an unlimited scale for the very first time.

And the science is rock-solid. There are over 2,000 published studies on Rhamnolipid, covering every area imaginable: skincare, pharmaceuticals, home care, agriculture, even oil and gas, and environmental remediation.

What makes it even more remarkable is that it checks all the boxes modern consumers care about: it is non-toxic, biodegradable, eco-friendly, renewable, and safe for humans, pets, and ecosystem. It is also mild and gentle on the skin, and can replace many of the harsh, synthetic, petroleum-based ingredients that people often worry about.

Now, with AGAE’s breakthrough technologies, the barriers have finally been removed. For the very first time, industries and formulators can make full use of what scientists have been recommending all along—bringing safer, greener, and more effective Rhamnolipid-containing products into the hands of everyday consumers.

 

Q7: How has AGAE Technologies made it possible to finally produce Rhamnolipid at scale for global use?

A7: For decades, Rhamnolipid was a natural treasure that science admired but industry couldn’t access. The challenge wasn’t in proving its benefits, this was already well documented. The challenge was in reliably producing it at scale at a cost that made sense.

This is where AGAE Technologies made the breakthrough. After years of research, innovation, and persistence, we developed the technologies to unlock Rhamnolipid’s full potential. What was once rare and difficult to produce is now something we can readily bring to formulators and industries worldwide.

This means the future is no longer limited to the use of harsh synthetics or petroleum-based chemicals. Instead, companies now have access to a safe, natural, renewable ingredient that can replace those older materials—without compromise.

This is really the heart of our mission: to take what nature has already given us, use technology to make it accessible, and deliver it to the world in a way that improves lives, protects the planet, and sets a new standard for the future.

 

Q8: How does AGAE Technologies ensure large-scale production of Rhamnolipid while maintaining quality and global supply?

A8: We started small, proving our ideas in labs and then in our pilot plant here in the United States. This is where we tested, refined, and perfected the technologies needed to unlock Rhamnolipid at scale. Once we had proven success, we took the fastest next step—building a full-scale production facility in Asia. We remain committed to securing the essential funding needed to establish advanced domestic complex factories in the U.S. for large-scale production of the Rhamnolipid ingredient.

Now, we can supply customers all over the world with Rhamnolipid in industrial quantities, without compromising quality or purity. Every batch we produce meets the highest standards possible, so companies and formulators can rely on it for consistent, effective performance.

The combination of innovation in the U.S. and the first large-scale production in Asia, means we can serve global markets efficiently while keeping our technology leadership close to home. This is how we are turning decades of scientific promise into real-world products that people everywhere can benefit from.

 

Q9: Why is Rhamnolipid particularly relevant in today’s market and for modern consumers?

A9: The world is changing. Consumers today are more aware than ever of what goes into the products they use. They are reading labels, asking questions, and looking for safer, greener, and more sustainable options. At the same time, governments around the world are tightening regulations on harmful chemicals, making it harder for companies to rely on synthetic, petroleum-based ingredients.

This is why Rhamnolipid is arriving at exactly the right moment. It offers the performance industries need while being natural, safe, biodegradable, and eco-friendly. It fits perfectly into the global movement toward cleaner, healthier products.

For companies, this means they don’t just meet regulatory requirements, they also meet

consumer expectations. And for consumers, it means they finally get products that are not only effective, but also safe for themselves and kind to the environment.

So, in many ways, the demand for Rhamnolipid isn’t just growing, it is inevitable.

 

Q10: How does Rhamnolipid outperform synthetic ingredients in both strength and challenging conditions?

A10: One of the most exciting things about Rhamnolipid is that it is not just safer, it is stronger. In fact, Rhamnolipid can be used at only a fraction of the amount required for synthetic ingredients—sometimes just one-tenth or even one-hundredth—and still deliver the same or even better results.

And here is where Rhamnolipid really shines: it performs in places where synthetics fail. It works in environments that are usually considered “too tough” for other ingredients—such as high salinity, harsh temperatures, and extreme pH conditions. This means it can keep products stable, effective, and reliable even in the most demanding situations.

So, Rhamnolipid isn’t just the greener choice, it is also the smarter, high-performance choice. It proves that natural solutions don’t have to compromise on effectiveness. In fact, they can outperform old, synthetic standards.

 

Q11: How does Rhamnolipid align with the growing demand For safer, greener, and more sustainable products?

A11: Around the world, people are becoming more conscious of what they use on their skin, in their homes, and in their everyday lives. They want products that are not only effective but also safe for their families and kind to the planet. At the same time, industries and governments are responding by setting higher standards and tighter regulations.

This shift is not a passing trend—it is a long-term movement. The future of consumer products is safer, greener, and more sustainable. And that is exactly where Rhamnolipid fits in. It answers the growing call for ingredients that combine performance with responsibility.

As awareness grows, demand for solutions like Rhamnolipid will only accelerate. And AGAE Technologies is ready to meet that demand—helping to shape a healthier, safer, and more sustainable future for everyone.

 

Q12: How is AGAE Technologies leading the global shift toward Rhamnolipid, and what sets it apart from others in the industry?

A12: We are not the only ones who see this future. Several of the world’s largest chemical, consumer product, and ingredient companies have already invested significant resources into trying to develop the very technologies that AGAE Technologies has been perfecting for over a decade. This reveals how important Rhamnolipid has become. It is not just our vision; it is a global shift.

What makes us confident is that, while others are just starting or catching up, AGAE Technologies has been laser-focused on the production and quality of Rhamnolipid for many years. Our team has dedicated more than a decade of concentrated R&D and innovation solely towards overcoming the many difficult technical challenges of production and making Rhamnolipid available in industrial scale. 

Competition is a good thing. We welcome it, because in the end, it means formulators, industries, and everyday consumers will have access to safer, greener, and more effective choices. We are proud to be leading the way, helping to set the standard for what the future of ingredients should be.

Rhamnolipids & HAA – Premium Eco-Friendly Biosurfactants for Cosmetics, Agriculture, and Industry

AGAE Technologies specializes in the development, mass production, and supply of premium-quality rhamnolipids and their precursor HAA (3-(3-hydroxyalkanoyloxy)alkanoate). These natural, biodegradable surfactants offer powerful cleaning, wetting and moisturizing, emulsifying, and stabilizing properties for industries worldwide — from cosmetics and personal care to agriculture, oil recovery, and environmental remediation.

What are Rhamnolipids?

Rhamnolipids (RL) are natural glycolipid biosurfactants of microbial origin and known for their exceptional surface-active properties. Each molecule features:

This amphiphilic molecular structure allows rhamnolipids to reduce surface and interfacial tension, enabling oil-water emulsification and improved product performance.

Advantages Over Other Biosurfactants (e.g., Sophorolipids):

Latest Development

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HAA – The Versatile Rhamnolipid Precursor

HAA is the direct biosynthetic precursor to rhamnolipids and possesses all the key surface-active properties of natural biosurfactants.

Key Applications:

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Our Rhamnolipid Product Lines

R90 – Partially Purified with diverse industrial applications

R95Dd, dR95Dd, R95Md & dR95Md – High Purity with Advanced Product Applications

R95D90, dR95D90, R95M90 & dR95M90 – High Purity Specialty Rhamnolipids

R95D622, dR95M476, R95D650, R95M504, R95D678, R95M530 & R95M532 – High Purity with a Single-Congener Dominant Specialty Rhamnolipids

Why AGAE Rhamnolipids?

·        15+ years of continuous innovation and production excellence with a full product line

·        Proprietary fermentation and purification technologies, and advanced analytical methods

·        The world’s only company offering a complete rhamnolipid product line online

·        Commitment to green chemistry and sustainable manufacturing

·        Global supply capability with consistent quality

Disclaimer: This information is for reference only. AGAE Technologies, LLC makes no warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Users are responsible for compliance with all applicable regulations.

To Purchase Our Rhamnolipids Click Here