Screening of bacteria, isolated from PAH-contaminated soils, for production of biosurfactants and bioemulsifiers

• Published in: Biodegradation (Dordrecht) Vol. 7; no. 5; pp. 415 - 423
• Main Authors: Willumsen, P.A, Karlson, U
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.01.1997
• Subjects: aromatic hydrocarbons; biodegradation; Biological and medical sciences; Biology of microorganisms of confirmed or potential industrial interest; bioremediation; Biotechnology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Isolation and description; mineralization; Mission oriented research; polluted soils; pollution control; soil bacteria; strains; surfactants; Biodegradation; Microbial origin; Mineralization; Microorganism culture; Isolation; Biosynthesis; Liquid medium; Emulsifier; Surfactant; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Soil pollution
• ISSN: 0923-9820; 1572-9729
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00056425

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-amended minimal medium was used to isolate a total of 57 bacterial strains from PAH-contaminated soils. The isolated strains were then evaluated for their ability to produce biosurfactants and bioemulsifiers. Tests of productivity were conducted in liquid media that contained certain PAHs. Many of the isolated strains proved capable of generating biosurfactants and bioemulsifiers under the conditions established for these experiments. Most of the strains isolated on phenanthrene, pyrene, and fluoranthene proved to be better emulsifiers than surface tension reducers. Strains isolated on anthracene proved more effective in lowering surface tension than in emulsion formation. In most cases, these behaviors were associated with bacterial cell surfaces.