Thickener

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thickener that, due to containing no polymer thickener or having a suppressed polymer thickener content, is capable of raising the viscosity of a composition while suppressing stickiness when applied to the skin, etc., and maintaining the feeling on use. The thickener according to the present invention is characterized by containing a phospholipid, a biosurfactant, and a 1,2-diol compound represented by formula (I).　Formula (1): HO-CH2-CH(OH)-R1 [In the formula, R1 represents a C5-12 hydrocarbon group.]

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a thickener that does not contain a polymeric thickener or has a reduced content of a polymeric thickener, and therefore is capable of increasing the viscosity of a composition while suppressing stickiness when applied to the skin, etc., and maintaining the feel of use. [Background technology]

[0002] In contrast to liquid preparations such as aqueous solutions and dispersions, if the viscosity of the topical preparation to be applied to the skin is increased, dripping during application is suppressed and the preparation is easier to apply. Therefore, a thickener that increases the viscosity is sometimes blended into topical preparations.

[0003] As thickeners, generally, polymers such as proteins such as gelatin, xanthan gum derived from microorganisms, carrageenan derived from seaweed, guar gum derived from plants, polysaccharides such as cellulose derivatives, etc. are used. However, polymeric thickeners can cause stickiness and deteriorate the feeling of use, especially when the topical agent is dried after application, such as when starch syrup is attached. Therefore, low molecular weight compounds or compositions having a thickening effect are desirable, but no practical low molecular weight thickeners have been developed so far.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a block copolymer containing a hydrophobic polymer unit and a sulfonic acid group-containing hydrophilic polymer unit as a relatively low molecular weight thickener component. However, the molecular weight of such a block copolymer is several tens of thousands or more, and it is not capable of solving the above-mentioned stickiness problem. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-241060 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, conventional thickeners are made of polymers such as proteins and polysaccharides, and therefore have the problem of stickiness. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a thickener that does not contain a polymeric thickener or has a reduced content of a polymeric thickener, and thus can increase the viscosity of a composition while suppressing stickiness when applied to the skin, etc., and maintaining a good feel when used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present inventors have conducted extensive research to solve the above problems, and as a result have found that a thickener can be obtained without using a polymeric thickener by blending a specific 1,2-diol compound in addition to a phospholipid and a biosurfactant, thereby completing the present invention. The present invention will now be described.

[0008] [1] A thickening agent comprising a phospholipid, a biosurfactant, and a 1,2-diol compound represented by the following formula (I): HO-CH2-CH(OH)-R 1 (I) [In the formula, R 1 represents a hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms. [2] The thickener according to [1] above, further comprising a polyhydric alcohol having three or more hydroxyl groups. [3] The thickener according to [2] above, which contains 1 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less of a polyhydric alcohol per 1 part by mass of the biosurfactant. [4] The thickening agent according to any one of the above [1] to [3], wherein the biosurfactant is a surfactin represented by the following formula (II) or a salt thereof: [ka] [In the formula, X represents an amino acid residue selected from leucine, isoleucine and valine, R 2 is C9-18 indicates an alkyl group] [5] Contains phospholipids, biosurfactants, and water. The viscosity is 30 mPa s or more and 600 Pa s or less, and A thickener comprising a polymer thickener content of less than 1.0% by mass. [6] An external preparation comprising the thickener according to any one of [1] to [5] above. [7] The topical preparation according to the above [6], wherein the content of the polymer thickener is less than 1.0% by mass. [8] The topical preparation according to [6] or [7] above, which is a cosmetic preparation.

[0009] [9] Use of a thickening agent containing a phospholipid, a biosurfactant, and a 1,2-diol compound represented by the following formula (I) for increasing the viscosity of a composition containing water: HO-CH2-CH(OH)-R 1 (I) [In the formula, R 1 represents a hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms.

[10] The use according to the above [9], wherein the thickener further contains a polyhydric alcohol having three or more hydroxyl groups.

[11] The use according to the above

[10] , wherein the thickener contains 1 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less of a polyhydric alcohol per 1 part by mass of the biosurfactant.

[12] The use according to any one of the above [9] to

[11] , wherein the biosurfactant is a surfactin represented by the above formula (II) or a salt thereof.

[13] The use according to any one of the above [9] to

[12] , wherein the concentration of the polymer thickener in the composition is less than 1.0 mass%.

[14] Use of a thickening agent containing a phospholipid, a biosurfactant, and water to increase the viscosity of a composition containing water, wherein the viscosity of the thickening agent is 30 mPa s or more and 600 Pa s or less, and the content of a polymeric thickening agent in the thickening agent is less than 1.0 mass%.

[0010]

[15] A method for increasing the viscosity of a composition containing water, comprising: The method comprises the step of combining the above composition with a phospholipid, a biosurfactant, and a 1,2-diol compound represented by the following formula (I): HO-CH2-CH(OH)-R 1 (I) [In the formula, R 1 represents a hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms.

[16] The method according to

[15] above, further comprising blending a polyhydric alcohol having three or more hydroxyl groups with the composition.

[17] The method according to

[16] above, wherein 1 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less of a polyhydric alcohol is mixed per 1 part by mass of the biosurfactant.

[18] The method according to any one of the above

[15] to

[17] , wherein the biosurfactant is a surfactin represented by the above formula (II) or a salt thereof.

[19] The method according to any one of the above

[15] to

[18] , wherein the concentration of the polymer thickener in the composition is less than 1.0 mass%.

[20] A method for increasing the viscosity of a composition containing water, comprising: The method includes the step of blending a thickening agent containing phospholipids, a biosurfactant, and water with the composition, The viscosity of the thickener is 30 mPa s or more and 600 Pa s or less, and The method according to claim 1, wherein the thickener contains less than 1.0% by mass of polymer thickener.

[0011] Examples of the hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms include C 5-12 Alkyl group, C 5-12 Alkenyl group, C 5-12 Examples of the carbon number include an alkynyl group and a C6-12 aromatic hydrocarbon group. The number of carbon atoms is preferably 6 or more and 10 or less.

[0012] "C 5-12The term "alkyl group" refers to a linear, branched or cyclic monovalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms. Examples include n-pentyl, cyclopentyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decanyl, adamantyl, n-undecyl, and n-dodecyl, and preferably C 6-10 It is an alkyl group, and a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group is preferred, with a straight-chain alkyl group being more preferred.

[0013] "C 5-12 The term "alkenyl group" refers to a linear, branched or cyclic monovalent unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon double bond. Examples of the alkenyl group include n-pentenyl, n-hexenyl, n-heptenyl, cyclohexenyl, n-octenyl, n-decenyl, and n-dodecenyl. Preferably, the alkenyl group is a monovalent unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon double bond. 6-10 It is an alkenyl group, and a linear or branched alkenyl group is preferable, with a linear alkenyl group being more preferable.

[0014] "C 5-12 The term "alkynyl group" refers to a linear, branched or cyclic monovalent unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon triple bond. Examples of the alkynyl group include n-pentynyl, n-hexynyl, n-heptynyl, n-octynyl, n-decynyl, and n-dodecynyl. Preferably, the alkynyl group is C 6-10 It is an alkynyl group, and a straight-chain or branched-chain alkynyl group is preferable, and a straight-chain alkynyl group is more preferable.

[0015] "C 6-12 The term "aromatic hydrocarbon group" refers to a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples include phenyl, naphthyl, indenyl, biphenyl, etc., and preferably phenyl, naphthyl, and biphenyl.

[0016] "C 9-18An "alkyl group" refers to a linear or branched monovalent saturated hydrocarbon group having 9 to 18 carbon atoms. Examples include n-nonyl, 6-methyloctyl, 7-methyloctyl, n-decyl, 8-methylnonyl, n-undecyl, 9-methyldecyl, n-dodecyl, 10-methylundecyl, n-tridecyl, 11-methyldodecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-pentadecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-heptadecyl, and n-octadecyl. Effect of the Invention

[0017] The thickener according to the present invention can increase the viscosity of a composition even if no polymer thickener is used or the amount of the polymer thickener is reduced. As a result, when a composition containing the thickener according to the present invention is applied to the skin, the stickiness caused by the polymer thickener, especially after drying, is suppressed. Therefore, the thickener according to the present invention is very useful as a component for increasing the viscosity of external preparations such as cosmetics. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The thickener according to the present invention exhibits thickening properties even though it does not contain a polymer thickener or the content of the polymer thickener is less than 1.0% by mass.

[0019] In the present disclosure, the molecular weight of the polymer thickener is not particularly limited as long as the polymer thickener can be considered to be a polymer, and is, for example, 10,000 or more. Common polymer thickeners include, for example, cellulose-based polymer thickeners, which are cellulose and its derivatives; alginic acid-based polymer thickeners such as sodium alginate; starch-based polymer thickeners such as starch, carboxymethyl starch, and methylhydroxypropyl starch; other polysaccharide-based polymer thickeners such as agar, xanthan gum, carrageenan, and guar gum; protein-based polymer thickeners such as pectin, collagen, casein, albumin, and gelatin; vinyl-based polymer thickeners such as polyvinyl methyl ether and carboxyvinyl polymer; and acrylic-based polymer thickeners such as polyoxyethylene-based polymers, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene copolymer-based polymers, polyethyl acrylate, and polyacrylamide.

[0020] Specifically, the thickener according to the present invention contains phospholipids, biosurfactants, and water, has a viscosity of 30 mPa·s or more and 600 Pa·s or less, and contains less than 1.0% by mass of polymeric thickener. The viscosity can be determined, for example, by rotating a cylinder or disk in a solution containing 0.1% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less of phospholipids, 0.2% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less of biosurfactant, water as a solvent, and containing no polymeric thickener or having a concentration of less than 1.0% by mass, measuring the viscous resistance torque acting on the cylinder or disk used with a B-type viscometer, and converting the measured value. The viscosity is preferably 40 mPa·s or more, more preferably 50 mPa·s or more, and preferably 500 Pa·s or less.

[0021] Phospholipids are a general term for lipids that have a phosphate moiety in their structure, and are classified into glycerophospholipids, which contain glycerin in their skeleton, and sphingophospholipids, which contain sphingosine in their skeleton. Sphingosine has a structure in which the hydroxyl group at the C2 position of glycerin is replaced with an amino group, and a long-chain alkyl group is further bonded to the C1 position. The phosphate group forms a phosphate ester with the hydroxyl group of glycerin or sphingosine. Since phospholipids are one of the components of cell membranes, gel compositions and emulsion compositions containing phospholipids have excellent usability.

[0022] The phospholipid may be one represented by the following general formula (III): [ka] [In the formula, R 3 and R 4 is independently 8-24 Alkyl group, C 8-24 Alkenyl group, or C 8-24 R represents an alkynyl group. 5 ~R 7 is independently C 1-6 represents an alkyl group.

[0023] C 8-24 An alkyl group refers to a linear or branched monovalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms. Examples include octyl, nonyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, eicosacilyl, docosyl, isotetradecyl, isohexadecyl, isooctadecyl, isoeicosacilyl, isodocosyl, 2-butyldecyl, 2-hexyldecyl, 2-octyldecyl, 2-decanyldecyl, 2-dodecanyldecyl, and tetracosyl.

[0024] C 8-24 The alkenyl group refers to a straight-chain or branched-chain monovalent unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 8 to 24 carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon double bond.

[0025] C 8-24An alkynyl group refers to a straight-chain or branched-chain monovalent unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 8 to 24 carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.

[0026] C 1-6 The alkyl group refers to a linear or branched monovalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Examples include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, s-butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, and n-hexyl. 1-4 is an alkyl group, more preferably C 1-2 It is preferably an alkyl group, and even more preferably methyl.

[0027] A specific example of a phospholipid is lecithin, which is another name for phosphatidylcholine and has the following structure: [ka]

[0028] In addition, naturally derived lipid products containing phospholipids are sometimes called natural lecithin. For example, a phospholipid product derived from egg yolk is sometimes called egg yolk lecithin, and a phospholipid product derived from soybeans is sometimes called soybean lecithin.

[0029] Other examples of phospholipids include glycerophospholipids such as phosphatidic acid, bisphosphatidic acid, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, and diphosphatidylglycerol; sphingophospholipids such as sphingosine, ceramide, sphingomyelin, and cerebroside; and hydrogenated lecithins such as hydrogenated soybean phospholipid and hydrogenated egg yolk lecithin.

[0030] Biosurfactants are natural surface-active compounds produced by microorganisms, and examples thereof include lipopeptide biosurfactants having a hydrophobic group and a hydrophilic peptide portion, particularly cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactants in which the lipopeptide portion is cyclic. The cyclic peptide portion contains one or more anionic groups, such as a carboxyl group or a phenolic hydroxyl group. Lipopeptide biosurfactants have the advantage of being easily decomposed by microorganisms and therefore having little impact on the environment.

[0031] The cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactant may be one or more selected from surfactin, arthrofactin, iturin, and salts thereof, with surfactin or a salt thereof being preferred.

[0032] Here, surfactin or a salt thereof refers to surfactin represented by general formula (II) or a salt thereof. [ka] [In the formula, R 2 and X have the same meaning as above.]

[0033] The amino acid residue represented by X may be either L- or D-form, but is preferably L-form. Examples of counter cations constituting a surfactin salt include alkali metal ions and quaternary ammonium ions. The alkali metal ions are not particularly limited, but include lithium ions, sodium ions, potassium ions, etc., with sodium ions being preferred. Examples of the substituents of the quaternary ammonium ions include C ions such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, and tert-butyl. 1-6 Alkyl group; C with a substituent such as 2-hydroxyethyl 1-6Examples of the organic groups include alkyl groups, aralkyl groups such as benzyl, methylbenzyl, and phenylethyl, and aryl groups such as phenyl, toluyl, and xylyl. Examples of the quaternary ammonium ion include tetramethylammonium ion, tetraethylammonium ion, and pyridinium ion.

[0034] Arthrofactin is represented by the general formula (IV). [ka]

[0035] Arthrofactin has one D-aspartic acid and one L-aspartic acid in its structure, and these amino acid residues may form salts. Examples of counter cations that constitute such salts include alkali metal ions and quaternary ammonium ions.

[0036] Iturin is represented by the general formula (V). [ka] In formula (V), R 8 is C 9-18 It indicates an alkyl group, for example, -(CH2) 10 CH3, -(CH2)8CH(CH3)CH2CH3, -(CH2)9CH(CH3)2.

[0037] One or more kinds of biosurfactants or their salts may be used. For example, a mixture of two or more kinds having different carbon numbers of hydrophobic groups may be used. The cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactant can be separated from the culture liquid by culturing a microorganism that produces the desired cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactant according to a known method, and can be used either as a purified product or as an unpurified product, for example, as the culture liquid. For example, a strain belonging to Bacillus subtilis can be mentioned as a microorganism that produces surfactin. Biosurfactants obtained by chemical synthesis can also be used in the same manner.

[0038] The main solvent of the thickener according to the present invention is water, which may be water alone or a mixed solvent of a water-miscible organic solvent and water. A water-miscible organic solvent is an organic solvent that can be mixed with water without restrictions, and is preferably one that has little adverse effect on the human body, particularly human skin. Examples of water-miscible organic solvents include ethanol and isopropyl alcohol. When a water-miscible organic solvent is used, the ratio of the water-miscible organic solvent to the total of water and the water-miscible organic solvent is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less, more preferably 15% by mass or less, and even more preferably 10% by mass or less or 5% by mass or less.

[0039] As described above, the thickener according to the present invention exhibits thickening properties even though it does not contain a polymer thickener or the amount of the polymer thickener is small. One embodiment of the thickener according to the present invention that exhibits thickening properties even though it does not contain a polymer thickener or the amount of the polymer thickener is small is one in which a 1,2-diol compound represented by formula (I) (hereinafter referred to as "1,2-diol compound (I)") is added in addition to a phospholipid and a biosurfactant.

[0040] When the thickener according to the present invention contains a solvent, the concentration of the 1,2-diol compound (I) may be appropriately adjusted within a range in which the thickener exhibits thickening properties, and may be, for example, 1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less. If the concentration is 1% by mass or more, the thickening properties are more reliably exhibited even if the thickener does not contain a polymer thickener or the amount of the polymer thickener blended is small. On the other hand, if the concentration is 20% by mass or less, separation of the thickener can be more reliably suppressed. The ratio of the 1,2-diol compound (I) to 1 part by mass of phospholipid can be, for example, 5 parts by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less. If the concentration is 5 parts by mass or more, the thickening properties are more reliably exhibited even if the thickener does not contain a polymer thickener or the amount of the polymer thickener blended is small. On the other hand, if the concentration is 20 parts by mass or less, separation of the thickener can be more reliably suppressed.

[0041] The ratio of the 1,2-diol compound (I) to 1 part by mass of the biosurfactant can be, for example, 2 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less. If the concentration is 2 parts by mass or more, the thickening effect is more reliably exhibited even if the thickener does not contain a polymer thickener or contains only a small amount of the polymer thickener. On the other hand, if the concentration is 10 parts by mass or less, separation of the thickener can be more reliably suppressed.

[0042] When the thickener according to the present invention contains the 1,2-diol compound (I), the ratio of the biosurfactant to 1 part by mass of the phospholipid can be, for example, 0.5 parts by mass or more and 5 parts by mass or less. If the ratio of the phospholipid to the biosurfactant is within this range, separation of the thickener can be more reliably suppressed.

[0043] The thickener according to the present invention can be produced by a conventional method. For example, it may be produced by mixing at least phospholipid and biosurfactant in a solvent together with other components to be thickened, or the thickener according to the present invention may be added separately to the liquid composition to be thickened to thicken the liquid composition. In the latter embodiment, the thickener according to the present invention may or may not contain a solvent.

[0044] The thickener according to the present invention and the thickening composition containing the thickener according to the present invention may contain other components in addition to the phospholipid and biosurfactant described above, the optional components 1,2-diol compound (I) and solvent. Examples of other components include polyhydric alcohols having three or more hydroxyl groups, such as glycerin. The amount of the polyhydric alcohol may be appropriately adjusted, and may be, for example, 1 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less per part by mass of the biosurfactant. Polyhydric alcohols having three or more hydroxyl groups can be used as solvents at room temperature and normal pressure, and can also be used as moisturizers, water retaining agents, humectants, skin protectants, oral hygiene agents, fragrances, and the like. Examples of other components include ultraviolet absorbers, antioxidants, emollients, solubilizers, anti-inflammatory agents, moisturizers, preservatives, bactericides, pigments, fragrances, powders, and the like.

[0045] The thickener according to the present invention and the thickening composition containing the thickener according to the present invention do not contain a polymer thickener or contain a small amount of the polymer thickener, so that they are less sticky after drying and have an excellent feeling of use. Specifically, the concentration of the polymer thickener in the thickener according to the present invention or the thickening composition containing the thickener according to the present invention is preferably less than 1.0% by mass. The concentration may be 0% by mass. Therefore, the thickening composition containing the thickener according to the present invention is particularly useful as an external preparation such as a cosmetic or skin external preparation that is applied directly to the skin.

[0046] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-227456, filed on December 17, 2019. The entire contents of the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-227456, filed on December 17, 2019, are incorporated by reference into this application. EXAMPLES

[0047] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and it is possible to carry out the present invention by making appropriate modifications within the scope of the above and below-mentioned aims, and all of these modifications are included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0048] Example 1 0.1 g of soy lecithin (Basis LP-20, Nisshin Oillio Group, PC content: approx. 25%), 0.2 g of sodium surfactin, and 8.7 g of 0.2% phosphate buffer were placed in a 50 mL Falcon tube and stirred for 2 minutes using a vortex mixer. The resulting mixture was heated to 70-80°C, and 1 g of 1,2-octanediol that had been preheated to 70-80°C was added, followed by stirring for 2 minutes using a vortex mixer.

[0049] Example 2 A mixture was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 1,2-octanediol was replaced with 1,2-decanediol.

[0050] Comparative Example 1 A mixture was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 1,2-octanediol was replaced with glycerin.

[0051] Comparative Example 2 A mixture was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 1,2-octanediol was replaced with ethanol.

[0052] Comparative Example 3 A mixture was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 1,2-octanediol was replaced with 1,3-propanediol.

[0053] Comparative Example 4 A mixture was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 1,2-octanediol was replaced with 1,3-butanediol.

[0054] Comparative Example 5 A mixture was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 1,2-octanediol was replaced with 1,2-pentanediol.

[0055] Comparative Example 6 A mixture was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 1,2-octanediol was replaced with 1,2-hexanediol.

[0056] Comparative Example 7 A mixture was prepared in the same manner as in Comparative Example 6, except that the amount of 1,2-octanediol was changed from 10% by mass to 40% by mass.

[0057] Comparative Example 8 A mixture was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 1,2-octanediol was replaced with 1,8-octanediol.

[0058] Test Example 1: Evaluation of thickening properties In Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 8, the diol compound was added and stirred for 2 minutes, and then the thickening property of the mixture was evaluated. Specifically, the tube containing each mixture was turned upside down once and then turned back to its original position, and the thickening property was evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 1. The units of values ​​in Table 1 are "mass %". 〇: The liquid level returns to horizontal position more slowly than purified water, and it takes more than one second for the liquid level to return to horizontal position. △: The liquid surface returns to a horizontal position more slowly than purified water, and it takes less than 1 second for the liquid surface to return to a horizontal position. ×: The liquid level returns to a horizontal level at the same level as purified water.

[0059] [Table 1]

[0060] As shown in the results in Table 1, when a surfactant-like diol compound, which is a 1,2-diol having 8 or more carbon atoms and has a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part, was blended in addition to the phospholipid and sodium surfactin, the viscosity of the composition was found to increase significantly. When 1,8-octanediol was blended (Comparative Example 8), the composition was separated into an oil phase and an aqueous phase, and a homogeneous composition was not obtained.

[0061] Example 3 0.1 g of hydrogenated lecithin ("SLP-92H" Tsuji Oil Mills, PC content: approximately 90%), 0.2 g of sodium surfactin, and 8.7 g of 0.2% phosphate buffer were placed in a 50 mL Falcon tube and stirred for 2 minutes using a vortex mixer. The resulting mixture was heated to 70-80°C, and 1 g of 1,2-octanediol that had been preheated to 70-80°C was added, followed by stirring for 2 minutes using a vortex mixer.

[0062] Example 4 A mixture was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that "Basis 60HR" manufactured by Nisshin Oillio Group, Ltd. (PC content: approximately 70%) was used as the hydrogenated lecithin.

[0063] Example 5 A mixture was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, except that "Basis LP-20H" manufactured by Nisshin Oillio Group, Ltd. (PC content: approximately 25%) was used as the hydrogenated lecithin.

[0064] Test Example 2: Evaluation of thickening properties The thickening properties of the mixtures of Examples 3 to 5 were evaluated under the same conditions as in Test Example 1. The results are shown in Table 2. The units of values ​​in Table 2 are "mass %."

[0065] [Table 2]

[0066] As shown in the results in Table 2, it was revealed that even a composition that used hydrogenated lecithin instead of lecithin as the phospholipid in addition to sodium surfactin and a diol compound exhibited thickening properties.

Claims

1. The present invention comprises a phospholipid, a biosurfactant, and a 1,2-diol compound represented by the following formula (I): The biosurfactant is a surfactin represented by the following formula (II) or a salt thereof, A thickening agent characterized in that the phospholipid is a glycerophospholipid or a hydrogenated lecithin. HO-CH 2 -CH(OH)-R 1 ・・・ (I) [In the formula, R 1 represents a hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms. 【Chemistry 1】 [In the formula, X represents an amino acid residue selected from leucine, isoleucine and valine; R 2 represents a C 9-18 alkyl group.

2. The thickener according to claim 1, further comprising a polyhydric alcohol having three or more hydroxyl groups.

3. The thickener according to claim 2 , comprising 1 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less of a polyhydric alcohol per 1 part by mass of the biosurfactant.

4. A thickening agent described in any of claims 1 to 3, which does not contain a polymeric thickening agent or contains less than 1.0 mass% of a polymeric thickening agent.

5. Further containing water, The thickener according to any one of claims 1 to 4, having a viscosity of 30 mPa·s or more and 600 Pa·s or less.

6. An external preparation comprising the thickener according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The external preparation according to claim 6, which is a cosmetic preparation.

8. The composition contains a phospholipid, a biosurfactant, and a 1,2-diol compound represented by the following formula (I) for increasing the viscosity of a composition containing water, The biosurfactant is a surfactin represented by the following formula (II) or a salt thereof, The thickening agent is a glycerophospholipid or a hydrogenated lecithin. HO-CH 2 -CH(OH)-R 1 ・・・ (I) [In the formula, R 1 represents a hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms. 【Chemistry 2】 [In the formula, X represents an amino acid residue selected from leucine, isoleucine and valine; R 2 represents a C 9-18 alkyl group.

9. The use according to claim 8, wherein the thickener further comprises a polyhydric alcohol having three or more hydroxyl groups.

10. The use according to claim 9, wherein the thickener contains 1 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less of a polyhydric alcohol per 1 part by mass of the biosurfactant.

11. The use described in any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the thickener contains 0.5 parts by mass or more and 5 parts by mass or less of the biosurfactant per 1 part by mass of the phospholipid.

12. The use according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the concentration of the polymeric thickener in the composition is less than 1.0% by weight.

13. 1. A method for increasing the viscosity of a composition comprising water, comprising: The method includes the step of blending a phospholipid, a biosurfactant, and a 1,2-diol compound represented by the following formula (I) with the composition, The biosurfactant is a surfactin represented by the following formula (II) or a salt thereof, The method, wherein the phospholipid is a glycerophospholipid or a hydrogenated lecithin. HO-CH 2 -CH(OH)-R 1 ・・・ (I) [In the formula, R 1 represents a hydrocarbon group having 5 to 12 carbon atoms. 【Chemistry 3】 [In the formula, X represents an amino acid residue selected from leucine, isoleucine and valine; R 2 represents a C 9-18 alkyl group.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising blending a polyhydric alcohol having three or more hydroxyl groups with the composition.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the polyhydric alcohol is mixed in an amount of 1 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less per 1 part by mass of the biosurfactant.

16. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the thickener contains 0.5 parts by mass or more and 5 parts by mass or less of the biosurfactant per 1 part by mass of the phospholipid.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the concentration of the polymeric thickener in the composition is less than 1.0% by weight.

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