Bio-Surfactant for Sustainable Textile Processing
Sangeeta Patil¹, Ashok Athalye²

¹Sangeeta Patil, Department of Textile Fibres and Science, Institute of Chemical Technology, Runwal Garden, Tower 12, Flat No 0304, Dombivali (Maharashtra), India.

²Prof. Dr. Ashok Athalye, Department of Textile Fibres and Science, Institute of Chemical Technology, ITC, Matunga (Maharashtra), India. 

Manuscript received on 10 June 2025 | First Revised Manuscript received on 21 July 2025 | Second Revised Manuscript received on 16 October 2025 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 November 2025 | Manuscript published on 30 November 2025 | PP: 1-12 | Volume-5 Issue-2, November 2025 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijfte.A242205021125 | DOI: 10.54105/ijfte.A2422.05021125

Open Access | Editorial and Publishing Policies | Cite | Zenodo | OJS | Indexing and Abstracting

© The Authors. Published by Lattice Science Publication (LSP). This is an open-access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Abstract: Enforcing environmental preservation and addressing climate change for future generations presents various issues for modern society. Microorganisms produce a family of surfaceactive molecules called biosurfactants, which have garnered considerable interest due to their environmentally beneficial properties and potential to replace synthetic surfactants in various industries. Traditional textile wet processing, which includes pretreatment, dyeing, and finishing, often employs synthetic surfactants that raise concerns regarding their biodegradability, toxicity, and potential for water pollution. On the contrary, biosurfactants are biodegradable, non-toxic, and can work in various environmental circumstances, providing a sustainable option. Among the different types of surfactants, glycolipids are particularly highlighted, with sophorolipids (SLs) being lowmolecular-weight compounds that have garnered significant attention. This study compares the effectiveness of SLs with conventional surfactants in various textile wet processing steps, such as pretreatment and dyeing. According to the findings, SLs not only outperform their synthetic counterparts in terms of surfactant qualities (wetting, emulsifying, and foaming) but also lessen the process’s total environmental impact. The results suggest that incorporating SLs into textile wet processing can facilitate the industry’s transition to more sustainable technologies, leading to greener production methods.

Keywords: Bio-based Surfactant, Bio-degradable, Cotton Processing, Environmental Impact, Effluent Treatment.
Scope of the Article: Textile Processing and Manufacturing