Question 1

Which products does PureSurf offer?

Accepted Answer

Three families built on the PureSynth platform: NEXOVANT, a bio-based amine oxide surfactant available as F Pro and F Eco; RHEOSYL, an additive-free gelator and rheology modifier; and SYLVAXIS, a bio-based broad-spectrum antimicrobial active.

Question 2

What is the difference between NEXOVANT F Pro and F Eco?

Accepted Answer

Both grades are drop-in amine oxide replacements with the same core chemistry. F Pro is the performance grade, at TRL 6 with 50 kg batches and an independently measured CMC of 33 mg/L. F Eco is optimised for the ecotoxicological and biodegradation profile: it is readily biodegradable at 74.7 % ThCO2 in 28 days (OECD 301B, GLP) and carries the higher registered aquatic EC50 values (algae 11.9 mg/L, OECD 201; Daphnia magna 42.9 mg/L, OECD 202). The two grades also differ in CLP classification, so check the grade-specific safety data sheet.

Question 3

Which grades are commercially available today?

Accepted Answer

NEXOVANT is the commercial line and ships in sample and pilot quantities. RHEOSYL and SYLVAXIS are at TRL 4, validated in the laboratory and open for joint formulation trials rather than volume supply.

Question 4

Are your surfactants drop-in replacements?

Accepted Answer

Yes. NEXOVANT is designed to replace conventional amine oxides without process changes. We still recommend a short compatibility and stability screen in your own formulation, and our technical team supports that work.

Question 5

What performance data can you show?

Accepted Answer

NEXOVANT F Pro was measured independently at BASF SE at a CMC of 33 mg/L, against 73 mg/L for the C12 to C14 dimethylamine oxide benchmark in the same test series, and reaches 0.69 mN/m water/olive oil interfacial tension against 5.52 mN/m for that benchmark, 8× lower. RHEOSYL shows up to an approximately 7,000-fold viscosity increase at 1 wt% in water in internal, non-GLP screening; no absolute viscosity value is published yet. Every figure on the site names the method and the maturity of the data behind it.

Question 6

What does a lower CMC mean for my formulation?

Accepted Answer

The critical micelle concentration is the point at which surfactant molecules start forming micelles and doing cleaning work. A lower CMC means the same effect at a lower dose, which reduces active load per litre of finished product.

Question 7

How is the toxicity advantage measured?

Accepted Answer

Aquatic toxicity is measured against the endpoints regulators use: algae (OECD 201, 72 h, Raphidocelis subcapitata), Daphnia magna (OECD 202, 48 h) and fish (OECD 203), benchmarked against a conventional lauryl amine oxide. Registered algal EC50 values are 11.9 mg/L for F Eco and 1.49 mg/L for F Pro, against 0.47 mg/L for the benchmark. The underlying OECD 201 and 202 reports are still in finalisation and, for F Pro, the drafts indicate lower EC50 values than the current safety data sheet states, so we publish no toxicity-advantage multiplier until those reports are signed.

Question 8

What is the PureSynth platform?

Accepted Answer

PureSynth is our modular synthesis platform for building surfactant structures from renewable, lignocellulosic building blocks. More than 80 novel compounds have been screened on it, which is how new grades are developed for specific customer requirements.

Question 9

Are PureSurf surfactants biodegradable?

Accepted Answer

Grade by grade. NEXOVANT F Eco is readily biodegradable: 74.7 % ThCO2 in 28 days by OECD 301B (CO2 evolution) under GLP, above the 60 % ready-biodegradability criterion the EU Detergents Regulation builds on. For F Pro the classification is under final assessment: an OECD 301F manometric respirometry study reached 78.9 % ThOD in 28 days but the report is not yet finalised, and an earlier OECD 301B study on the same substance reached 47.4 % ThCO2, below the threshold. We will publish the final F Pro classification when the report is signed.

Question 10

Are your products palm free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our chemistry is built on European lignocellulosic and renewable building blocks, so there is no palm kernel oil or palm oil derivative in the surfactant backbone and no palm supply chain exposure.

Question 11

What safety and classification data exists?

Accepted Answer

Both grades are non-mutagenic in the Ames test (OECD 471, final signed GLP result). Beyond that, the two grades differ. F Pro is classified Eye Dam. 1 (H318) and Aquatic Acute 2 (H401) per safety data sheet v1.1, and is not corrosive to skin under OECD 431. F Eco is classified Skin Corr. 1B/1C (H314), Skin Sens. 1 (H317) and Eye Dam. 1 (H318) per safety data sheet v1.0, with no aquatic hazard classification assigned on that sheet. Full, versioned safety data sheets are issued per grade, and we notify customers of record when a classification changes.

Question 12

What is the REACH status?

Accepted Answer

REACH registration is in preparation for the 1 to 10 t/y band, with a target submission in Q4 2026. Higher tonnage bands follow with the additional study packages they require. SYLVAXIS runs a separate route under the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) 528/2012 and is not yet authorised as a biocidal active in the EU. We share the current status per grade directly with commercial partners, together with the supporting study references.

Question 13

How do I request a sample?

Accepted Answer

Use the sample request form. Research and development evaluation samples are supplied free of charge together with the technical data sheet, safety data sheet and the relevant GLP study references.

Question 14

What quantities can you supply today?

Accepted Answer

Production has been scaled from laboratory grams to 50 kg per batch in under two years. Sample and pilot quantities are available now; larger volumes are planned per customer against a jointly agreed ramp-up.

Question 15

Do you ship internationally?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Shipments follow the applicable regulations for chemical goods, and customs documentation plus certificates of analysis accompany every international shipment.

Question 16

Which documents do I get with a delivery?

Accepted Answer

Technical data sheet, safety data sheet and a batch certificate of analysis. Additional documentation for your own certification or dossier work can be requested through the contact form.

Question 17

Do you run pilot programmes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We run structured pilots with FMCG and industrial and institutional formulators under NDA. A pilot typically runs three to six months and includes technical support, performance testing and scale-up planning.

Question 18

Can you develop a custom surfactant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The PureSynth platform is modular, so structures can be tailored to a defined performance target. Custom development starts with a joint specification workshop under NDA.

Question 19

Who is behind PureSurf and how is it funded?

Accepted Answer

PureSurf FlexCo is a spin-off from the University of Graz (Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz). The underlying platform was developed in the EIC Transition project PureSurf under Horizon Europe (grant agreement 101058142, EUR 2.48M, 2022 to 2025), coordinated by the University of Graz. Company-stage development is supported by aws Deep Tech PreSeed alongside private financing.

Question 20

What is your IP position?

Accepted Answer

Patent families covering amine-N-oxide surfactants, sulphonate surfactants, furan-based amine-N-oxides, lignin-derived epoxy resins and amino-acid derivatives, filed in more than eight jurisdictions with the first grant in South Africa in December 2024. An independent freedom-to-operate search by an external patent firm (January 2025) across eight core structure families found no blocking third-party rights, with three active families flagged for monitoring.

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