Chitosan-based sustainable detergent additive as a green alternative to quaternary ammonium salts

Overview

CuanTec's water-soluble chitosan derivatives provide a sustainable, biodegradable alternative to quaternary ammonium salts ("quats") commonly used as antimicrobial agents in laundry detergents. The chitosan is produced from food waste through a proprietary, environmentally friendly chitin extraction process, offering a greener solution across both production and end-use. Unlike conventional quats, chitosan naturally degrades in the environment after use without producing harmful by-products or persistent pollution, addressing growing regulatory and consumer pressure to reduce the environmental footprint of cleaning products.

The technology targets detergent manufacturers and formulators seeking EPA-registered antimicrobial ingredients that maintain fabric hygiene while reducing ecological impact. Chitosan is registered by the EPA as an antimicrobial agent, and the derivatives have demonstrated strong bactericidal performance at concentrations of 1% or lower.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Water-soluble chitosan derivatives produced from food waste using a novel sustainable chitin extraction process
• Antimicrobial efficacy demonstrated at ≤1% concentration

• 99.9% (±0.77) reduction of E. coli and 99.99999% (±3.2) reduction of S. aureus at 1% and 0.4% dilution, respectively

• Generally higher molecular weight than currently commercially available chitosans
• EPA-registered antimicrobial agent with natural environmental biodegradability
• Pre-commercial scale production capability targeting 60 tonnes per annum from multiple identified waste food sources
• Compatibility assessment planned with quats in commercial detergent formulations

Technology readiness level

The chitosan extraction process has been reproducibly demonstrated at pre-commercial scale, capable of meeting a minimum production target of 60 tonnes per annum from a range of waste food sources. Preliminary antimicrobial efficacy data has been generated to determine feasibility ahead of EN1276 standard testing. A planned 9-month validation programme will investigate antimicrobial efficacy across multiple exposure times, determine effective dilution ranges for 5 Log reduction, assess compatibility with existing detergent formulations, evaluate stability over time, test fabric washing under simulated conditions, confirm regulatory extensions for derivatives, and investigate scale-up to commercial production quantities.