Biosurfactants

Eugene Rosenberg*, Eliora Z. Ron

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Microorganisms synthesize a wide variety of high- and low-molecular-mass bioemulsifiers. The low-molecular-mass bioemulsifiers are generally glycolipids, such as trehalose lipids, sophorolipids, and rhamnolipids, or lipopeptides, such as surfactin, gramicidin S, and polymyxin. The high-molecular-mass bioemulsifiers are amphipathic polysaccharides, proteins, lipopolysaccharides, lipoproteins, or complex mixtures of these biopolymers. The low-molecular-mass bioemulsifiers lower surface and interfacial tensions, whereas the higher-molecular-mass bioemulsifiers are more effective at stabilizing oil-in-water emulsions. Three natural roles for bioemulsifiers have been proposed: (1) increasing the surface area of hydrophobic water-insoluble growth substrates, (2) increasing the bioavailability of hydrophobic substrates by increasing their apparent solubility or desorbing them from surfaces, and (3) regulating the attachment and detachment of microorganisms to and from surfaces. Bioemulsifiers have several important advantages over chemical surfactants, which should allow them to become prominent in industrial and environmental applications. The potential commercial applications of bioemulsifiers include bioremediation of oil-polluted soil and water; enhanced oil recovery; replacement of chlorinated solvents used in cleaning-up oil-contaminated pipes, vessels, and machinery; use in the detergent industry; formulations of herbicides and pesticides; and formation of stable oil-in-water emulsions for the food and cosmetic industries.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Prokaryotes
Subtitle of host publicationApplied Bacteriology and Biotechnology
PublisherSpringer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
Pages281-294
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9783642313318
ISBN (Print)3642313329, 9783642313301
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2014

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