Rhamnolipid from a Lysinibacillus sphaericus strain IITR51 and its potential application for dissolution of hydrophobic pesticides

[Display omitted] •An indigenous Lysinibacillus sphaericus producing rhamnolipid was characterized.•Biosurfactant identified was stable to pH changes over range from 4 to 10.•Isolated biosurfactant showed antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria.•Rhamnolipid increased solubility of pesticides for enhanced bioavailability. Rhamnolipid produced from a Lysinibacillus sphaericus IITR51 was characterized and its ability for dissolution of hydrophobic pesticides were evaluated. L. sphaericus produced 1.6 g/L of an anionic biosurfactant that reduced surface tension from 72 N/m to 52 N/m with 48% emulsification index. The biosurfactant was found stable over a wide range of pH (4.0–10.0), temperature (4–100 °C), salt concentration (2–14%) and was identified as rhamnolipid. At the concentration of 90 mg/L rhamnolipid showed enhanced dissolution of α-, β-endosulfan, and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane up to 7.2, 2.9, and 1.8 folds, respectively. The bacterium utilized benzoic acid, chlorobenzene, 3- and 4-chlorobenzoic acid as sole source of carbon and was found resistant to arsenic, lead and cadmium. Furthermore, the isolated biosurfactant showed antimicrobial activities against different pathogenic bacteria. The results obtained indicate the usefulness of rhamnolipid for enhanced dissolution and thereby increasing the bioavailability.