Promising Biosurfactant Produced by Cunninghamella echinulata UCP 1299 Using Renewable Resources and Its Application in Cotton Fabric Cleaning Process

Abstract

A biosurfactant was produced from Cunninghamella echinulata using sustainable technology for cleaning and degreasing of cotton fabric impregnated with burned motor oil. The surface tension was 32.4 mN/m on a medium containing instant noodle waste (2%), corn steep liquor (2%), and postfrying oil (0.5%) with a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 30 : 1, yield of 6.0 g·L−1, emulsifier index of 81.4%, and dispersant property of 32.15 cm2. The biosurfactant produced is a glycolipid constituted by carbohydrate (47.7%) and lipids (50.0%). The structure was confirmed by GC-MS (stearic acid in predominance with mass of 298 m/z), FTIR spectroscopy (polysaccharides in bands between 1025 and 1152 cm−1 and fatty acids in bands between 2057 and 3100 cm−1), 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectrum (carbohydrates in signal of 4.38 ppm and 77.0 ppm). The properties of cleaning and degreasing of burned engine oil in cotton fabric by biosurfactant of C. echinulata was evidenced by removal of 86% of oil. After use of the biosurfactant, the fibers were not damaged, which is important for structural integrity of cotton fabric after the wash. In addition, the biosurfactant did not show toxic effect. This study suggests that the biosurfactant from C. echinulata can be used in formulation of textile detergents, in particular for removal of hydrophobic residues from the automobile industry.