From dairy waste to value-added bio-based surfactants

Cheese whey permeate, the main waste stream of dairy industry, was used as a starting material for the production of bio-based surfactants (SFAEs). Specifically, the first step in the sustainable chemoenzymatic synthesis of n -butyl 6- O -palmitoyl- D -glycosides (Fischer glycosylation followed by enzymatic esterification) was optimized by a chemometric study. The surfactancy of the prepared isomeric mixtures was deeply investigated in terms of static and dynamic interfacial tension and emulsifying capability over time. • Cheese whey permeate dairy waste was exploited as renewable raw material. • The Fischer glycosylation reaction conditions were optimized by a chemometric study. • The surfactancy of SFAEs was assessed by static and dynamic interfacial measurements.