BIOSURFACTANTS: A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH FOR HYDROCARBON BIOREMEDIATION AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

A significant amount of waste is produced and released into the environment due to the increased use of crude oil and other oil-related products. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria tend to form a surface-active biomolecule known as a biosurfactant during the biodegradation process. Biosurfactants can form intracellularly and extracellularly and are hydrophobic and hydrophilic in nature, while lowering the interfacial surface tension. A wide range of microorganisms, including bacterial species of genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, etc., and filamentous fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, etc., and yeast-like Candida, etc., have been identified as efficient biosurfactant producers. There are many advantageous characteristics of biosurfactants, such as low toxicity, biodegradability, environmental compatibility, etc. Accordingly, biosurfactants have received increasing attention for a wide range of applications in various fields. In environmental protection, they are widely significant for their role in the bioremediation process. On the other hand, biosurfactants intended for use in food, pharmaceutical, and agriculture fields are produced under safe conditions using non-pathogenic strains and substrates. This article presents a review of available data and publications regarding surfactants, biosurfactants, biosurfactant classification, biosurfactant-producing bacteria, and applications.