We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microbial Surfactants: The Next Generation Multifunctional Biomolecules for Applications in the Petroleum Industry and Its Associated Environmental Remediation
Summary
This review examines microbial biosurfactants as environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic surfactants used in the petroleum industry and environmental remediation. Researchers found that biosurfactants offer comparable performance to synthetic versions while being biodegradable and less toxic. The study highlights the potential for these biomolecules to reduce pollution from industrial processes, including addressing hydrocarbon and plastic contamination in the environment.
Surfactants are a broad category of tensio-active biomolecules with multifunctional properties applications in diverse industrial sectors and processes. Surfactants are produced synthetically and biologically. The biologically derived surfactants (biosurfactants) are produced from microorganisms, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis Candida albicans, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus as dominant species. Rhamnolipids, sophorolipids, mannosylerithritol lipids, surfactin, and emulsan are well known in terms of their biotechnological applications. Biosurfactants can compete with synthetic surfactants in terms of performance, with established advantages over synthetic ones, including eco-friendliness, biodegradability, low toxicity, and stability over a wide variability of environmental factors. However, at present, synthetic surfactants are a preferred option in different industrial applications because of their availability in commercial quantities, unlike biosurfactants. The usage of synthetic surfactants introduces new species of recalcitrant pollutants into the environment and leads to undesired results when a wrong selection of surfactants is made. Substituting synthetic surfactants with biosurfactants resolves these drawbacks, thus interest has been intensified in biosurfactant applications in a wide range of industries hitherto considered as experimental fields. This review, therefore, intends to offer an overview of diverse applications in which biosurfactants have been found to be useful, with emphases on petroleum biotechnology, environmental remediation, and the agriculture sector. The application of biosurfactants in these settings would lead to industrial growth and environmental sustainability.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Harnessing the Potential of Biosurfactants for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications
This review covers biosurfactants, which are natural compounds made by microbes that could replace synthetic chemical surfactants in medicine and consumer products. While not directly about microplastics, these biological alternatives could reduce our dependence on petroleum-based products that contribute to plastic pollution. The compounds show promise for drug delivery, wound healing, and fighting infections, potentially offering greener options for applications that currently rely on synthetic plastics.
Advancing bioremediation: biosurfactants as catalysts for sustainable remediation
This review examines how biosurfactants, natural cleaning agents produced by microorganisms, can help break down stubborn pollutants including microplastics. Unlike synthetic chemicals, biosurfactants are biodegradable and less toxic, making them a greener option for environmental cleanup. The research suggests these biological tools could play an important role in reducing microplastic contamination in soil and water, potentially lowering human exposure over time.
Biodegradation of Plastics: The role of biosurfactant-producing bacteria in environmental remediation
This review examined the role of biosurfactant-producing bacteria in plastic biodegradation, finding that biosurfactants enhance bioavailability of hydrophobic polyethylene and polypropylene surfaces, potentially accelerating microbial degradation—offering a promising biotechnological strategy for environmental plastic pollution remediation.
Microbial Surfactants: The Next Generation Multifunctional Biomolecules for Diverse Applications
This review covers microbial biosurfactants including rhamnolipids, sophorolipids, and surfactin, highlighting their production from bacteria and fungi and their advantages over synthetic surfactants including biodegradability, low toxicity, and stability across varied environmental conditions.
Remediación de suelos contaminados con hidrocarburos pesados utilizando biosurfactantes y surfactantes químicos
This review examines the use of biosurfactants and chemical surfactants for remediating soils contaminated with heavy hydrocarbons, comparing the efficacy of biologically derived versus synthetic surfactants across techniques including soil washing, bioaugmentation, and phytoremediation. The authors highlight biosurfactants as a promising sustainable alternative due to their lower toxicity, biodegradability, and effectiveness in mobilizing petroleum hydrocarbons from soil matrices.