Biosurfactants in environmental biotechnology

Biosurfactants are natural products derived from bacteria, yeasts, or fungi. The complex chemical structures and physical properties of biosurfactants generally result in properties equal to, or exceeding, many synthetic surfactants. Biosurfactants have low toxicity profiles to freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems, and are potential candidates for a variety of environmental applications. Research, to date, has largely been focused on the enhancement of oil biodegradation and microbial enhanced oil recovery. The solubilization and emulsification of toxic pesticides by biosurfactants has also been reported, aiding in the recovery of such hazardous materials from contaminated sites. The future success of biosurfactant technology in bioremediation initiatives will require the precise targeting of the biosurfactant system to the physical conditions and chemical nature of the pollution-affected site.