THE CLASSIFICATION AND THE APPLICATIONS OF

BIO-SURFACTANTS
Abstract
Surfactants are compounds which lower the surface tension (or interfacial tension)
between two phases. Biosurfactants are the surfactant molecules which are produced from
biological origin. In recent days biosurfactants have numerous advantages over the synthetic
surfactants such as lower toxicity, higher biodegradability, better environmental
compatibility and higher foaming. They are used in various industries such as
pharmaceutical, cosmetics, textile and food processing industries. These biosurfactants can
be produced by many bacterial species such as Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp.and
Acinetobacter sp. Etc, And few fungal species such as Candida sp., Aspergillus ustus and
Tricosporon ashii etc. also known to produce biosurfactants. The present review deals with
the classification of biosurfactants, production of various biosurfactants from the
microorganism and the factors affecting their production. Application of bio surfactants also
explained in this review.

INTRODUCTION
Biosurfactants are microbial compounds that show unique surface activity (Maneerat,
2005). They are amphiphilic molecules that lowers the interfacial tension between individual
molecules at interfaces and surfaces. Bio-surfactants are eco-friendly and have wide
applications in bioremediation, oil recovery, food processing and pharmaceutical industries
(Makkar and Cameotra, 1998; Bodour et al., 2003). However, the synthetic surfactants are
harmful (Batista et al., 2006) and leads to the accumulation of environmental harmful
compounds on soil (Kuyukina et al., 2005).

Bio-surfactants are reported to be produced by various fungi and bacteria using

renewable sources (Satpute et al., 2010). Carbon sources like animal fat, tallow fat, oleic acid
and glycerol are likely to produce higher yields of fungal surfactants (Deshpande and Daniel,
1995; Kim et al., 2002). Due to the presence of rigid cell wall fungi have better yield of bio-
surfactants than bacteria (Kim et al., 1999).

The bio-surfactants use in marine systems is probable mainly due to the marine
bacteria that have the ability to produce the bio-surfactants during growth on hydrocarbons
(Bodour et al. 2003). Bio surfactants can replace synthetic surfactants due to the advantages
like higher biodegradability, lower toxicity, higher foaming, better environmental
compatibility, specific activity at extreme temperatures, pH, salinity, wide selectivity and the
ability to be synthesised from renewable feedstock (Desai and Banat, 1997; Kuyukina et al.
2005). Biosurfactants also have been used in oil spill control, detoxication and biodegradation
of soil and industrial effluents contaminated by oil (Banat et al. 2010; Bognolo, 1999).
Researchers have reported that synthesis of biosurfactants by microorganisms is also possible
by using water soluble compounds like sucrose, glucose, glycerol or ethanol as substrates
(Desai and Banat, 1997). Bio-surfactants made by freshwater or soil micro-organisms are
mostly biodegradable and less toxic. Microbes like Arthrobacter, Acinetobacter, Halomonas
Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Rhodococcus, Bacillus and few yeast species can produce
biosurfactant (Maneerat et al. 2006; Perfumo et al. 2006; Das et al. 2008).

CLASSIFICATION OF BIOSURFACTANT

BASED ON CHEMICAL NATURE

Biosurfactants classified on chemical nature is mainly based on their compound

sources and structure. The hydro-phillic top is generally peptide, amino acid, mono-, di- or
polysaccharide and the hydrophobic end is generally unsaturated, saturated, branched, linear,
or hydroxylated fatty acid (Desai and Banat, 1997; Muthusamy et al. 2008). Glycolipids are
the carbohydrates with the grouping of hydroxyaliphatic acid or long chain aliphatic acid by
means of ester or ether group. Trihalolipids, sorpholipids, rhamnolipids and are well known
bio-surfactants among the glycolipids (Kitamoto et al. 1990; Lang and Wagner, 1987).

Biosurfactants produce various possible lipoproteins and lipopeptides. These

molecules are cyclic peptides are linked to a fatty acid. The bacteria that produces
lipoproteins or lipopetide biosurfactants are Bacillus subtilus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus
subtilis (Yakimov et al. 1997; Begley et al. 2009), Pseudomonas fluorescens (Banat et al.
2010), Serratia marcescens (Lai et al. 2009), Bacillus sp., (Vanittanakom et al.1986),
Arthrobacter sp., (Morikawa et al. 1993), Brevibacterium brevi, Bacillus brevis (Krauss and
Chan, 1983), Brevibacterium polymyxa, Bacillus polymyxa (Suzuki et al. 1965), Myroides
sp., Pseudomonas sp., Thiobacillus sp. Agrobacterium sp., Gluconobacter sp., (Desai and
Banat, 1997).
Many bacteria and yeast synthesize large amounts of fatty acids and phospholipid
surfactants. Many hydrophobic substrate bacteria and yeast produce large amounts of fatty
acids, phospholipids, and neutral lipid. Few bacteria that produce fatty acid and phospholipid
biosurfactants are Thiobacillus thiooxidans, Pseudomonas sp, Candida lepus, Candida sp,
Nocardia erythropolis, Acinetobacter sp., Micrococcus sp., Mycococcus sp., Aspergillus sp
and Penicillium sp. (Kappeli and Finnerty, 1979).
 Polymeric biosurfactants are produced by bacteria like Acinetobacter calcoaceticus,
Candida lipolytica, Yarrowia lipolytica, Candida tropicali, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. The best polymeric biosurfactants are lipomanan, liposan,
alasan, emulsan, mannan (Rosenberg et al. 1988; Cirigliano and Carman, 1984).

BASED ON IONIC CHARGES

The hydrophilic group of a surfactant is referred to as head group which is strongly

polar or charged. Anionic group includes the early synthetic detergents sulphatesand the
sulphonate, and the traditional soaps. Cationic groups are generally alkyl pyridinium,
quaternary ammonium or imidazolinium compounds. The amphoteric surfactants are used in
the form of sulphobetaines or betaines. Zwitterionic surfactants are milder than the anionic
and can be best used in shampoos, soaps and toilets. The non-ionic surfactants are generally
dominated by ethoxylates. These are semi polar compounds such as sulphoxide, amine oxides
and phospholine oxides. Combination of both anionic and non-ionic groups such as alkyl
ethoxysulfates are milder on skin dishwashers and shampoos. The hydrophobic group of
surfactant are a simple hydrocarbon group and generally denoted as “tail”.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AFFECTING THE

BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCTION
The conditions to produce the biosurfactants are atmost important as mild
modification can modify the properties of the biosurfactant produced. The different
physicochemical factors to be considered are discussed below:
CARBON SOURCES
Carbon source plays a vital role in the production and growth of biosurfactants by the
various microorganisms. Only when one carbon source (glucose and vegetable oil) for
biosurfactant production a low yield will be obtained compared to the carbon sources
supplemented together for production. When sugar and oil was used with Candida bombicola
as a source of carbon supply combined, the yield was reported to be high (Casas and García-
Ochoa, 1999). Also, the combination of glucose and canola oil with Candida lipolytica was
reported to produce higher yield of the surfactant, sophorolipids (Sarubbo et al., 2007). The
industrial residue used for production of lipid-protein carbohydrate biosurfactant reduces the
surface tension of distilled water (Rufino et al., 2007). Higher yields of sophorolipids were
also found when Candida antarctica and Candida apicola are supplemented with soap stock
(Bednarski et al., 2007). Modification in fatty acid composition is reported when fatty acid of
the fermentation media of Candida ingens is altered (Amézcua et al., 2007).
NITROGEN SOURCES
The second important compound for the production of bio-surfactants is nitrogen. When urea
and yeast extract were used with Torulopsis bombicola and Candida bombicola as a nitrogen
supplement higher yields of sophorose were reported to be attained (Casas and García-Ochoa,
1999; Deshpande and Daniels, 1995). Also higher yields of mannosylerythritol were said to
be attained with yeast extract and ammonium nitrate by Candida lipolytica, Candida sp. SY16
and Candida glabrata (Kim et al., 1999; Sarubbo et al., 2006).
pH
pH is a vital parameter to be considered during the production of biosurfactants. The
maximum yield of biosurfactant was reported to be produced by Candida glabrata UCP 1002
at pH 5.7, Candida batistae at pH 6.0 (Sarubbo et al., 2006;), Candida lipolytica at pH 5.0
and Candida sp. SY16 at pH 7.8. While Pichia anamola and Aspergillus ustus produces
maximum yield at the pH 5.5 and 7.0 respectively (Thaniyavarn et al., 2008).
TEMPERATURE

Little change in temperature varies the microbial production process. The most favourable
conditions for biosurfactant production by is Candida species 30°C. But for Candida
lipolytica the best temperature is 27 °C (Deshpande and Daniels, 1995)
INCUBATION TIME
Incubation time have a great effect in the production of biosurfactant. The incubation time for
production of biosurfactant by Aspergillus ustus MSF3 is after 5 days, for Candida
bombicola, is 11 days and for Candida bombicola using animal fat the incubation time is 68 h
(Felse et al., 2007; Casas and García-Ochoa, 1999).

APPLICATIONS OF BIO-SURFACTANTS
Biosurfactants have various applications in several fields like bioremediation, food, oil,
medical and cosmetic industries. Few of the applications are reported as follows:
OIL INDUSTRY
Bio-surfactants can be used to enhance oil recovery. Compared to chemical surfactants,
biosurfactants are required in small quantity and is very selective and effective for broad
rangeg of oil reservoir. Biosurfactants have various applications in physico-chemical and
industrial processes to increase the solubility, mobility, removing soil and lubrication (Lai et
al. 2009).

FOOD INDUSTRIES
Biosurfactants are recognised to have increased applications in food industries. Fatty acid
esters containing glycerol, ethyloxylated derivatives of monoglycerides, sorbitol or ethylene
glycol, lecithin and its derivatives are used as an emulsifiers. Surfactants can also be used as
stabilisers in food products. Also, it has wide application in bakery and meat industry to
maintain the rheological properties of the tissues (Fiechter, 1992). Biosurfactants can be used
to prevent fouling of heat exchaners since they retard colonisation of Streptococcus
thermophillus.
PHARMACEUTICALS
Biosurfactants can have a vital applications in pharmaceutical industry such agents for
anticancer activity, respiratory failure, antiadhesive agents in surgicals, antiviral activity,
immunological adjuvants, recovery of intracellular products, gene delivery, inhibition the
adhesion of pathogenic organisms to solid surfaces, antimicrobial activity and agents for the
stimulation of skin fibroblast metabolism (Mukherjee et al., 2006)
PESTICIDE INDUSTRY

Surfactants are used to enhance the pesticide efficiency since it acts as dispersing,
emulsifying, wetting and spreading agent and enhance the efficiency of pesticides. They are
used as adjuvant in insecticides, fungicides and herbicides due their defensive properties
(Rostas et al. 2009). Varieties of surfactants like cantionic, anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric
have been used in pesticide industries (Mulqueen, 2003). For agricultural applications,
mixture of biosurfactants in various combinations with polymers to make best formulations.

COSMETIC INDUSTRY
Biosurfactants have a wide application in cosmetic industry due to its peculiar properties like
de-emulsification, water binding capacity, wetting, emulsification, foaming and spreading.
The cosmetic products that can be produced by the application of bio-surfactants are
antidandruff products, contact lens solution, bath products, acne pads, hair colors pastes, and
care products, baby products, sticks deodorants, nail care, lipsticks body massage accessories,
sprays shampoos,, lip makers, eye shades, liquids soap, antiperspirants tooth pastes and
polishes, adhesives, foot care, antiseptics, shampoos, conditioners, shave and depilatory
products, mousses denture cleansers, health and beauty products creams, , moisturizers,
powders, conditioners, gels, lotions films (Ueno et al. 2007; Villeneuve, 2007).

CONCLUSIONS

Biosurfactants demand is increasing in recent years due to its advantages over synthetic
surfactants. It is extensively used in oil, pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries due to
its low price, easy availability and broadened application. However, there are still technical
restrictions in commercialisation of biosurfactants. There is a gap for research in genetics,
physiology and biochemistry for bio-surfactants and also to decrease the production cost.

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