Structure and Applications of a Rhamnolipid Surfactant Produced in Soybean Oil Waste

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and biotechnology Vol. 160; no. 7; pp. 2066 - 2074
• Main Authors: Nitschke, Marcia, Costa, Siddhartha G. V. A. O, Contiero, Jonas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York New York : Humana Press Inc 01.04.2010; Humana Press Inc; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: animal fats and oils; antimicrobial properties; Bacillus cereus; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; chemical composition; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; emulsifying properties; food industry; food processing wastes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycolipids - biosynthesis; Glycolipids - chemistry; Industrial Waste; Micrococcus luteus; Molecular Structure; Neurospora crassa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - chemistry; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - metabolism; rhamnolipids; Rhizomucor miehei; soybean oil; Soybean Oil - chemistry; Soybean Oil - metabolism; Soybeans; Staphylococcus aureus; Surface-Active Agents - chemistry; Surface-Active Agents - metabolism; Surfactants; Waste materials; Soybean oil waste; Soapstock; Rhamnolipids; Biosurfactants; Biosurfactant; Pseudomollas aeruginasa; Wastes; Surfactant; Soybean oil; Structure; Application
• ISSN: 0273-2289; 1559-0291
• DOI: 10.1007/s12010-009-8707-8

Soybean oil soapstock was utilized as an alternative carbon source for the production of rhamnolipids by Pseudomonas aeruginosa LBI strain. The chemical composition and properties of the rhamnolipid mixture obtained were determined to define its potential applications. The chemical characterization of the rhamnolipid has revealed the presence of ten different homologues. The monorhamnolipid RhaC₁₀C₁₀ and the dirhamnolipid Rha₂C₁₀C₁₀ were the main components of the mixture that showed predominance of 44% and 29%, respectively, after 144-h of cultivation. The biosurfactant was able to form stable emulsions with several hydrocarbons and showed excellent emulsification for soybean oil and chicken fat (100%). The rhamnolipid removed 67% of crude oil present in sand samples and presented antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus and Mucor miehei at 64 μg/mL and inhibition of Neurospora crassa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Micrococcus luteus at 256 μg/mL. The results demonstrated that the rhamnolipid produced in soybean oil soapstock can be useful in environmental and food industry applications.