What are Biosurfactants ?
Answer / aditi
Biosurfactants are surface-active substances synthesised by
living cells. They have the properties of reducing surface
tension, stabilising emulsions, promoting foaming and are
generally non-toxic and biodegradable. Interest in
microbial surfactants has been steadily increasing in
recent years due to their diversity, environmentally
friendly nature, possibility of large-scale production,
selectivity, performance under extreme conditions and
potential applications in environmental protection.
Biosurfactants enhance the emulsification of hydrocarbons,
have the potential to solubilise hydrocarbon contaminants
and increase their availability for microbial degradation.
The use of chemicals for the treatment of a hydrocarbon
polluted site may contaminate the environment with their by-
products, whereas biological treatment may efficiently
destroy pollutants, while being biodegradable themselves.
Hence, biosurfactant producing microorganisms may play an
important role in the accelerated bioremediation of
hydrocarbon contaminated sites [3][4][5]. These compounds
can also be used in enhanced oil recovery and may be
considered for other potential applications in
environmental protection [5][6]. Other applications include
herbicides and pesticides formulations, detergents, health
care and cosmetics, pulp and paper, coal, textiles, ceramic
processing and food industries, uranium ore-processing and
mechanical dewatering of peat [1][2][7].
Several microorganisms are known to synthesise surface-
active agents, most of them are bacteria and yeasts [8][9].
When grown on hydrocarbon substrate as the carbon source,
these microorganisms synthesise a wide range of chemicals
with surface activity, such as glycolipid, phospholipid and
others [10][11]. These chemicals are apparently synthesised
to emulsify the hydrocarbon substrate and facilitate its
transport into the cells. In some bacterial species such as
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, biosurfactants are also involved in
a group motility behavior called swarming motility.
Is This Answer Correct ? | 7 Yes | 1 No |
What is the importance of Vibrio anguillarum ?
Explain agar bacteria separation?
Name a fungus that is gram positive?
Who provided the experimental evidence that led to the gene- for-gene theory?
What are viriods?
why the most probable number(MPN) technique is carried out?
How to sterilize protein solutions ?
How does ELISA work?
WHAT IS THE LIMIT OF MLT IN FINISHED PHARMA PRODUCT LIKE TABLET CAPSULE SYRUP CREAM
Describe about the Antibiotic resistance in plant groth promoting bacteria?
Which microorganisms causes Rheumatic heart disease ?
What is the procedure for Laboratory diagnosis of enteric fever?