Expertise in surfactant technology…

We pride ourselves on being able to provide true expertise and assistance to help the formulator develop new products and technologies. We have a dedicated laboratory facility aimed at analysing and matching products, and we also provide technical support to assist customer queries. We see technical support as key to the growth of the business, and as a company, we continually develop new products to meet customer demands.

Our chemistries…

Surfactants contain both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic section, and as a combination of these two different characteristics within the molecule, many different properties can be achieved. We have products that produce high or low foam. Some products offer excellent detergency and are used in cleaning formulations. We have surfactants that offer good emulsification of oils and monomers, in the case of emulsion polymerisation. We have some products that offer excellent wetting power and some that offer both wetting and dispersing properties. Products are available for each of the surfactant types, anionic, nonionic, cationic and amphoteric.      

Green Chemistry Is Our Focus

Lankem founded in 1999 is a rapidly expanding business supplying surfactant products to industrial markets such as coatings, emulsion polymerisation, agrochemicals, textiles, oils and lubricants and industrial cleaning. In recent years we have shifted  our focus on the development of novel bio-based surfactants and have introduced the new BioLoop surfactants.

Our primary business focus is surfactant technology in which we provide true expertise and advice to the formulator.

With an on-site laboratory facility and production lines, we are able to offer both conventional and unique surfactant products.

Products 

BioLoops

For many years we have been exploring the concept of engineering new surfactants using novel bio-based technologies. Sustainable products from renewable sources have been around for many years but the majority have very limited functionality in terms of performance compared to synthetic counter-types. Our remit was to develop a range of bio-based products that offer comparable performance against the synthetic products across a wide range of applications.

Anionics

Anionic surfactants are negatively charged materials that are available in a variety of chemical types. The main classes being alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, alkylbenzene sulfonates, alpha olefin sulfonates, phosphate esters. They are used in a wide range of applications where they provide useful characteristics including, emulsification, solubilisation, wetting, detergency, dispersion and foaming.

Nonionics

Nonionic surfactants carry no electrical charge and are available in a variety of chemical types. The main classes are alcohol ethoxylates, alcohol ethoxylates/propoxylates, ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers, castor oil ethoxylates, amine ethoxylates, fatty acid esters and their ethoxylates. They are used in a wide range of applications where they provide useful characteristics including  emulsification, solubilisation, wetting, dispersion, detergency, foaming and defoaming.

Amphoteric & Cationic 

Amphoteric surfactants can carry a positive or negative charge depending on pH, whereas cationic surfactants carry a positive charge. There are a number of chemical types for amphoteric surfactants including betaines, amidopropyl betaines, alkylamino dipropionates. They are used in a wide range of applications where they provide useful characteristics such as foaming, solubilisation, antistatic.

Markets 

Additives for Coatings 

Aqueous Systems
A range of dispersing agents for use in aqueous based formulations.

Solvent Systems
Solvent based coatings are still an important market especially for industrial paints.

UV
Systems
Dispersing agents for pigment UV cured systems.

Universal Systems
Universal Tinters are water-based pigment dispersions for colouring both water-based and solvent based paints.

Antifoams /Defoamer
Powerful foam control agents for coatings that are prone to aeration.

Agrochemicals

Surfactants are important components used in the preparation of agrochemicals formulations, they provide a broad range of essential properties including:​

  • Emulsification

  • Dispersion

  • Wetting

  • Compatibilization

  • Activity Enhancement

Emulsion Polymerisation 

Emulsion Polymerisation is a method in which polymers are prepared. The process of emulsion polymerisation consists essentially of forming an emulsion of a monomer, or a mixture of co-monomers, in an aqueous medium by the use of emulsifiers and then to polymerise the system in a controlled way with the use of an initiator.

The selection of suitable emulsifiers is complex and in some cases, anionics or nonionics can be used singularly but in most cases, an anionic/nonionic system is preferred as a way of increasing the stabilisation of the latex.

After many years of practical experience, we can provide starting surfactant recommendations for each polymer type listed. In most cases, the polymer chemist will need to evaluate the emulsifiers types, additional levels and ratios in order to obtain the required performance.

Vinyl Acetate Homopolymer (PVA)

Polyvinyl acetate homopolymer emulsions, often called PVAc or occasionally PVA homopolymers. Polyvinyl acetate is synthesized by the emulsion polymerisation of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM). PVAc emulsions are best known for their use in wood glues or school glues due to their strong adhesion properties.

However, PVAc emulsions are also widely used in many industrial and consumer end-use applications:​

  • Water-based adhesives

  • Carpet backings

  • Paper and paperboard coatings

  • Carpet backings

  • Building and construction products

Oilfield

Lankem has a broad range of surfactants that find application in the formulation of products for use in the oilfield industry, which includes in addition to the classic synthetic surfactants the new range of BioLoop biobased surfactants.​

The BioLoop surfactants offer a broad range of surface-active characteristics in combination with a good profile in terms of ecotoxicity and biodegradability making them particularly useful in environmentally sensitive applications. ​

The use of surfactants within the energy/oilfield industry is widespread, where their properties are essential both as active materials and formulation aids, these include:​

  • Dispersion 

  • Emulsification 

  • Foaming 

  • Defoaming 

  • Compatibilization ​

Surfactants find application in many oilfield operations, starting in the upstream operations exploration of fields during the drilling stage through to downstream operations in the refinery.

Metalworking 

Metalworking Fluids

Lankem has a broad range of surfactants that find use in the formulation of metalworking fluids. They find use in metal removal, metal forming and products used in the finishing of metal items, cleaning plating, anodizing etc.

The products Lankem offers for the formulation of metalworking products includes, in addition to the classic synthetic surfactants, the new range of BioLoop biobased surfactants.

The BioLoop surfactants offer a broad range of surface-active characteristics along with excellent profiles in terms of irritancy, ecotoxicity, biodegradability and >98% biobased carbon contents.

The use of surfactants within the metalworking industry is widespread, where their properties are essential in the formulation of effective products, including:

  • BioLoop Surfactants

  • Corrosion Inhibition

  • Emulsifiers

  • Lubricity Additives

  • Coupling Agents

  • Low Foam

  • Metal Cleaning

Household & Industrial Cleaning

The use of the new BioLoop Surfactants: 

a credible alternative to synthetic nonionics

Household and Industrial cleaning formulations with good detergency and cleaning properties.

​In both Household and Industrial applications it is essential that products have good detergency. Foaming characteristics may change depending on whether the formulator required high, medium or low foam.

Hand Cleaning​

Liquid hand soaps provide an economical and effective method of keeping your hands hygienically clean without the mess associated with a bar of traditional soap. We offer a range of anionic, amphoteric and nonionic surfactants that you can use in formulations for a wide variety of hand soaps.

Bathroom Cleaners​

Bathroom cleaners are produced in a range of formulations depending on the use, bath and tile cleaners, mould stain removers, limescale/rust removers, alkaline general purpose cleaners, these products are commonly formulated as ready to use sprays. We offer a series of nonionic surfactants ideal for the use in formulations of a wide range of bathroom cleaners.

General Purpose & Hard Surface Cleaners​

Household general purpose and hard surface cleaners are produced in a range of formulations depending on the use, concentrates for dilution, alkaline concentrates for greasy/heavily solid surfaces, ready to use sprays in both moderate and high foaming systems for foam applicators.

Glass Cleaner​

Glass cleaning products are used to clean a wide variety of glass surfaces such as windows, doors, mirrors. We manufacture a range of conventional surfactants that are ideal to use in the formulations of general glass cleaners along with our BioLoop surfactants with new chemistries and the latest technologies which are available to formulators that require green chemistry.

Carpet Cleaners​

When cleaning a carpet using mechanical cleaning methods, good detergency and foam control is essential. Too much foam generation will restrict liquid flow through the nozzle. Lankem can provide details for both conventional synthetic systems as well as the new BioLoop surfactants that help to offer better ecological profiling.

Machine Dishwasher​​

To have an option of using a liquid detergent that is bio-based is very attractive to the formulator of dishwash formulators. Not only is BioLoop 56L bio-based but it also has no hazards; and therefore no negative corrosive and warning labels will be passed onto the final product. The main criteria for dishwash detergents is good detergency that aids the removal of the food and oils from the plate, but also the system needs to be low foam.

 

Bespoke products

We offer a service to provide the customer with products that can be labelled in neutral markings. These products can either be re-brands or customer-specific formulations. The packaged material will range from 25kg, 200kg, 1000kg IBC and bulk tanker.

Global player

We ship products to all global regions and are continually developing new supply networks within all countries and regions.

Quality and the Environment

We view both quality and environmental compliance as essential components of the business. As expected we are a quality assured company with compliance in accordance with ISO9001 and with an excellent environmental profile, we have been certified to ISO14001. As a member of the Responsible Care programme, we are committed to managing the business both ethically and responsibly. Our Occupational Health and Safety Management System is certified to the ISO 45001 standard.

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