Biosurfactants: An Alternative to the Synthetic Surfactants and their Production by Bacteria Isolated from Solid Waste

Abstract

Biosurfactants are a structurally diverse group of amphiphilic,surface-active substances produced by microorganisms which can be used as an eco-friendly approach for environmental remediation. Surface activity makes surfactants excellent emulsifiers, foaming and dispersing agents. An attempt was made to produce biosurfactant from solid waste bacteria. Organisms were isolated from solid waste. The isolated organisms were identified to be Micrococcus luteus, Serratia liquefaciens, Bacillus macquariensis, Bacillus popilliae and Corynebacterium kutscheri by using various biochemical tests. All these organisms were screened for biosurfactant production using penetration assay, microplate assay and blood haemolysis technique. The yield of biosurfactants was compared in different media with and without oil stimulant and the role of an oil stimulant in biosurfactant production was determined.

Keywords

• biosurfactants
• amphiphilic
• emulsifiers
• microplate assay