Emollients are key ingredients in approximately 2,000 cosmetics and personal care products, including skin and hair care items and color cosmetics

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Rikarbon Inc. $181,500 under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program on September 30, 2025.

Rikarbon will develop a scalable process using a process-intensified fixed-bed flow reactor to produce low-viscosity bio-emollients from forest biomass. The company will characterize the physical and functional properties of the bio-emollients, assess their biodegradability, and perform economic and process efficiency evaluations. These bio-emollients are intended as alternatives to regulated cyclosiloxane compounds and declining mineral oil-based ingredients in cosmetic and personal care products.

The project runs through May 30, 2027, with work performed in Newark, Delaware. Rikarbon, a minority-owned small disadvantaged business, will conduct this work in collaboration with USDA-ARS-NEA-ERRC through Cooperative Research and Development Agreement No. 58-8072-5-046.

They function by solubilizing emulsifiers and combining emulsifiers, water, and additives into a single phase to form stable emulsions that deliver a pleasant texture and effective performance. The global emollient market is valued at approximately $4 billion and is growing at a rate of ~10%, particularly in response to demand for alternatives to silicone-based ingredients.for decades, cyclosiloxane compounds and mineral white oils have been commonly used in this market. However, cyclosiloxanes are now regulated under the reach framework due to concerns related to bioaccumulation and safety. Also, the use of mineral oils is declining because of consumer safety concerns towards petroleum-based ingredients in cosmetics. As a result, cosmetics manufacturers are increasingly seeking responsibly sourced, high-performance emollients that meet regulatory requirements and align with consumer expectations.rikarbon is developing a proprietary technology to produce BIO-emollients derived from forest and other non-food biomass sources as ingredients in cosmetic products. Our patent-pending process enables the production of emollients that match the desired properties for efficacy, sensory feel, and product performance, while addressing key industry challenges. In this project, rikarbon will develop a scalable process using a process-intensified fixed-bed flow reactor to produce low-viscosity BIO-emollients from forest biomass. We will characterize the physical and functional properties of the BIO-emollients, assess their biodegradability, and perform economic and process efficiency evaluations. This work will be carried out in collaboration with USDA-ARS-NEA-errc through a cooperative research and development agreement (crada no. 58-8072-5-046), contingent upon USDA sbir funding.