Bio-Inspired Innovation: How Soltellus™ Products Mimic Nature's Mastery

In the realm of sustainability, nature often provides the blueprint for innovation. Lygos's Soltellus™ Polymer, a bio-inspired polyaspartate, is an example of following this approach. Soltellus mimics the natural polyaspartate produced by oysters, offering a sustainable, non-animal-derived alternative that doesn’t sacrifice performance or cost.

The Natural Inspiration: Oysters and Polyaspartate

Oysters are fascinating marine organisms that produce the biopolymer, polyaspartate, to regulate the growth of their shells. This biopolymer inhibits the excessive accumulation of calcium carbonate, the principal component of oyster shells, thereby maintaining the structural integrity and preventing overgrowth. The biological strategy of using polyaspartate to control scale growth is not only efficient but also elegantly simple, making it a perfect model for biomimicry.

Soltellus: Nature-Inspired, Bioengineered Solution

Similar to the biopolymer produced by oysters, Soltellus is a polyaspartate. This polypeptide binds to hard water, making it an excellent sequestrant and anti-scalant. However, unlike the oyster-derived polyaspartate, Soltellus is non-animal, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable and ethical ingredients across industries.

Personal Care Applications

In personal care formulations, Soltellus mirrors the natural role of polyaspartate in oysters by preventing the buildup of mineral scales on hair and skin. This ability ensures a clean, smooth feel and improves product stability and efficacy in shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and facial cleansers. By inhibiting calcium carbonate formation, Soltellus enhances the performance and longevity of these products, just as it helps oysters maintain their shell integrity. Its biodegradable and non-animal-derived nature also meets the rising consumer demand for sustainable and ethical personal care products.

Water Treatment Applications

Soltellus excels in water treatment by preventing and removing scale buildup, similar to how oysters use polyaspartate to manage calcium carbonate deposition. In water systems, Soltellus binds to calcium ions, inhibiting the formation of hard, damaging scale deposits. This action enhances the efficiency of water heaters, boilers, and other equipment, reducing maintenance costs and enhancing operational efficiency. As a biodegradable alternative to traditional anti-scalants, Soltellus offers an environmentally friendly solution that mirrors the natural efficiency of oyster polyaspartate.

Home Care Applications

In home care, Soltellus is effective across all product applications. Similar to how polyaspartate in oysters prevents excess calcium carbonate buildup, Soltellus removes the formation of limescale on household surfaces and fixtures, ensuring they remain clean and free from unsightly deposits. This functionality helps extend the lifespan of household appliances and fixtures, providing a clean environment with minimal environmental impact. Furthermore, Soltellus keeps hard water minerals in the dishwasher to prevent the formation of spots and film. As far as laundry, Soltellus prevents the deposition of hard water minerals on fabrics and in the machine, the formation of insoluble complexes with surfactants and soils in the laundry industry, and the formation of spots in cleaners.

Agronomy Applications

The benefits of Soltellus also extend to agronomy, where it enhances plant growth by improving nutrient uptake in a manner reminiscent of how oysters use polyaspartate to regulate shell nutrients. Soltellus binds to soil nutrients, making them more bioavailable to plant roots, thus enhancing fertilizer efficiency and leading to healthier plants and better yields. Soltellus is completely biodegradable (i.e. broken down and consumed by soil microbes) within a growing season, aligning with sustainable farming practices.

Conclusion

By drawing inspiration from the natural world, Soltellus showcases the potential of biomimicry in creating innovative, ethical, and effective products. As we continue to seek sustainable alternatives, Soltellus is an example of what can be achieved when science and nature work in harmony.