New case study: turning fish oil waste into eco-friendly cleaning ingredients

Replacing conventional surfactants produced through oil, gas and chemical processing with those from fish oil waste

This project explored how oils extracted from fish industry waste can be transformed into bio-based surfactants - ingredients used in products like detergents and foaming agents.

Traditionally, surfactants are made from petrochemical sources, which rely on oil and gas processing. Using fish oil waste instead could support circular economy goals, reduce environmental impact, and create new business opportunities.

Valued at £34k, the project partners were the University of St Andrews and Eco Clean Team Ltd. The project was funded by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) and SAIC.

The four-month feasibility study focused on two main objectives: assessing market potential and developing sustainable production methods. Researchers tested eco-friendly processes to convert fish oil waste into long-chain fatty acids, then explored two catalytic routes for surfactant synthesis.

Lab tests confirmed successful surfactant formation, and the process was shown to be cleaner, safer, and easier to scale than conventional methods. The project achievement Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 – an important milestone that could pave the way for future development.

A market analysis revealed strong demand for bio-based surfactants, particularly in industrial and institutional cleaning. Regulatory frameworks and sustainability trends further support adoption of animal by-product-based solutions.

The project’s success attracted follow-on funding through IBioIC’s Innovation Fund, enabling further development and scale-up. By turning waste into valuable products, this initiative demonstrated how innovation can drive sustainability, economic growth, and competitiveness for Scotland’s aquaculture and biotech industries.

The full title of this project is ‘Using fish oil waste to produce bio-based surfactants’.

Read the full case study