Bio-based, PFA-free fire foam concentrate compositions comprising plant proteins, surfactants, alcohols, and builders, production thereof, and use thereof

A method for producing a PFAS-free fire foam concentrate, the method comprising:

• mixing water containing 0.1-1 wt % sodium bisulfite or sodium sulfite and a plant protein to form a protein dispersion, wherein the protein dispersion comprises 30 wt % plant protein and has an initial viscosity of greater than 100,000 cps when first dispersed;
• adjusting the pH of the protein dispersion to pH 7-8 by adding a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate;
• after adjusting the pH, modifying the plant protein in the protein dispersion through a chemical reaction using an alcalase protease enzyme at a temperature between 30 degrees C. and 50 degrees C. for a reaction time of 1-2 hours to reduce the molecular weight and dispersion viscosity of the protein dispersion to less than 2000 cps utilizing spindle 4 at 100 rpm at 40° C.;
• adding 1-biobutanol to the protein dispersion to halt the chemical reaction triggered by the introduction of the enzyme;
• combining the modified protein dispersion with a surfactant mixture comprising cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS);
• and
• adding citric acid as a builder to form the PFAS-free fire foam concentrate having a bio-based content of greater than 80% on a dry weight basis and comprising from about 50% to about 70% of plant protein based on the total dry weight of the concentrate.