Characterization of Lipopeptides Biosurfactants Produced by a Newly Isolated Strain Bacillus subtilis ZNI5: Potential Environmental Application

Aiming the production of lipopeptides biosurfactants (BioS), we isolated a new strain identified as Bacillus subtilis ZNI5 from a hydrocarbon contaminated soil. Lipopeptides purification by anionic exchange chromatography and identification by Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (RP-HPLC–MS) permitted the selection of different homologues divided into four families. The first family corresponds to Surfactin isoforms with molecular weights of 1007, 1021 and 1035 Da; the second family correspond to Iturin isoforms with molecular weights of 1028, 1042 and 1056 Da; the third family correspond to a single isoform called Licheniformin with molecular weight of 1410 and the fourth family correspond to newly identified isoforms named Inesfactin with molecular weights of 973 and 987 Da. Regarding the functional properties of the ZNI5 BioS, it was characterized as a powerful surface-active agent that decreases the Surface Tension of water from 72 mN/m to about 32 mN/m with a CMC value of 350 mg/L more efficient than chemical surfactants (Triton X100; CTAB and SDS). Moreover, it has the capacity to disperse oil to about 80 mm at a concentration of 800 mg/L showing close efficiencies to the listed chemical surfactants. In addition, the physic–chemical characterization of the surface activities of ZNI5 BioS showed great thermal, pH and salts activity and stability enabling its use in the bioremediation fields and for diverse industrial applications.