Degradation of selected (bio-)surfactants by bacterial cultures monitored by calorimetric methods

• Published in: Biodegradation (Dordrecht) Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 179 - 191
• Main Authors: Frank, Nicole, Lißner, Andreas, Winkelmann, Mario, Hüttl, Regina, Mertens, Florian O, Kaschabek, Stefan R, Schlömann, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.04.2010; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Bacteria; Biodegradation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biological and medical sciences; biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; biosurfactants; Biotechnology; Calorimetry; Calorimetry - methods; carbon; energy; Energy sources; Environment and pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geochemistry; Glycolipids - chemistry; Glycolipids - metabolism; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Life Sciences; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Methods; Microbial degradation; Microbiology; Original Paper; polysorbates; Polysorbates - chemistry; Polysorbates - metabolism; rhamnolipids; Rhodococcus - chemistry; Rhodococcus - growth & development; Rhodococcus - metabolism; Rhodococcus opacus; Soil Science & Conservation; Surface active agents; Surface-Active Agents - chemistry; Surface-Active Agents - metabolism; Surfactants; Terrestrial Pollution; thermodynamics; trehalose; Trehalose - chemistry; Trehalose - metabolism; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Energy balance; Calorimetry; Surfactant degradation; (In)Complete degradation processes; 1CP; Rhodococcus opacus 1CP; Rhodococcus; Method; Surfactant; Degradation; Microorganism culture; Bacteria; Actinomycetes; Operating process
• ISSN: 0923-9820; 1572-9729; 1572-9729
• DOI: 10.1007/s10532-009-9292-9

The subjects of the article are investigations concerning the ability of both Rhodococcus opacus 1CP and mixed bacterial cultures to use selected surfactants as sole carbon and energy source. In a comparative manner the biosurfactants rhamnolipid, sophorolipid and trehalose tetraester, and the synthetic surfactant Tween 80 were examined. Particular emphasis was put on a combinatorial approach to determine quantitatively the degree of surfactant degradation by applying calorimetry, thermodynamic calculations and mass spectrometry, HPLC as well as determination of biomass. The pure bacterial strain R. opacus was only able to metabolize a part of the synthetic surfactant Tween 80, whereas the mixed bacterial cultures degraded all of the applied surfactants. Exclusive for the biosurfactant rhamnolipid a complete microbial degradation could be demonstrated. In the case of the other surfactants only primary degradation was observed.