Screening of biosurfactant-producing Bacillus strains using glycerol from the biodiesel synthesis as main carbon source

• Published in: Bioprocess and biosystems engineering 2012-08, Vol.35 (6), p.897-906
• Main Authors: Sousa, M., Melo, V. M. M., Rodrigues, S., Sant’ana, H. B., Gonçalves, L. R. B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacillus; Bacillus - growth & development; Bacillus - isolation & purification; Bacillus - metabolism; Bacillus subtilis; Bacteria; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuel production; Biofuels - microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Carbon sources; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Emulsions - metabolism; Energy; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Food Science; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycerol - metabolism; Glycerol - pharmacology; Hydrocarbons - metabolism; Industrial and Production Engineering; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Kerosene; Liquid chromatography; Original Paper; Raw materials; Surface tension; Surface-Active Agents - metabolism; Surfactants; Wastewater treatment plants
• ISSN: 1615-7591; 1615-7605
• DOI: 10.1007/s00449-011-0674-0

Glycerol, a co-product of biodiesel production, was evaluated as carbon source for biosurfactant production. For this reason, seven non-pathogenic biosurfactant-producing Bacillus strains, isolated from the tank of chlorination at the Wastewater Treatment Plant at Federal University of Ceara, were screened. The production of biosurfactant was verified by determining the surface tension value, as well as the emulsifying capacity of the free-cell broth against soy oil, kerosene and N -hexadecane. Best results were achieved when using LAMI005 and LAMI009 strains, whose biosurfactant reduced the surface tension of the broth to 28.8 ± 0.0 and 27.1 ± 0.1 mN m −1 , respectively. Additionally, at 72 h of cultivation, 441.06 and 267.56 mg L −1 of surfactin were produced by LAMI005 and LAMI009, respectively. The biosurfactants were capable of forming stable emulsions with various hydrocarbons, such as soy oil and kerosene. Analyses carried out with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the biosurfactant produced by Bacillus subtilis LAMI009 and LAMI005 was compatible with the commercially available surfactin standard. The values of minimum surface tension and the CMC of the produced biosurfactant indicated that it is feasible to produce biosurfactants from a residual and renewable and low-cost carbon source, such as glycerol.