Evaluation of biosurfactant obtained from Lactobacillus pentosus as foaming agent in froth flotation

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2013-10, Vol.128, p.655-660
• Main Authors: Vecino, X., Devesa-Rey, R., Cruz, J.M., Moldes, A.B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biosurfactants; Biotechnology - methods; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; equations; Fermentation; Flotation; foaming; Foaming agents; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Gram-positive bacteria; Kinetics; Lactobacillus - metabolism; Lactobacillus pentosus; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Polysorbates - chemistry; pruning; Sediments; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - chemistry; Sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS); Sorption; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; stream channels; sugars; Surface chemistry; Surface-Active Agents - chemistry; Surfactants; Tween 20; vineyards; wastes
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.06.011

This study analyzes the kinetics of sediment sorption on two chemical surfactants (Tween 20 and SDS) and a biotechnologically produced surfactant (obtained from Lactobacillus pentosus). Biosurfactants were produced by fermentation of hemicellulosic sugars from vineyard pruning waste supplied as a substrate to L. pentosus. Results obtained showed that almost no SDS was adsorbed onto the sediments, whereas Tween 20 and biosurfactants from L. pentosus were absorbed after a few minutes. Kinetic models revealed that adsorption of surfactant onto riverbed sediments is governed not only by an intra-particle diffusion model (evaluated by the Weber and Morris model), but also by surface reaction models (evaluated by first, second, third order equations and Elovich equation), showing the best fit when employing the Elovich model. The adsorption properties showed by biosurfactant from L. pentosus onto sediments present it as a potential foaming agent in froth flotation. •New froth flotation techniques require the use of surfactants with low toxicity.•Biotechnologically produced biosurfactants offer new possibilities in froth flotation.•Biosurfactant yields an average sediment attachment of 91% in three minutes.