Abstract
ABSTRACT: A wide variety of bacteria is far more exploited than fungi as biosurfactants (BS) or bioemulsifiers (BE), using renewable sources. BS are considered to be environmentally safe and offer advantages over synthetic surfactants. However, the BS yield depends largely on the metabolic pathways of the microorganisms and the nutritional medium. The production of BS or BE uses several cultural conditions, in which a small change in carbon and nitrogen sources affects the quantity of BS or BE produced. The type and quantity of microbial BS or BE produced depend mainly on the producer organism, and factors such as carbon and nitrogen sources, trace elements, temperature and aeration. The diversity of BS or BE makes it interesting to apply them in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, agriculture, public health, food processes, detergents, when treating oily residues, environmental pollution control and bioremediation. Thus, this paper reviews and addresses the biotechnological potential of yeasts and filamentous fungi for producing, characterizing and applying BS or BE.
Highlights
Surfactants are chemical compounds, characterized by the presence of amphipathic molecules consisting of hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties, which are partitioned preferentially at the interface between fluid phases with different degrees of polarity and hydrogen bonds
biosur‐ factants (BS) and BE are amphipathic compounds produced by vari‐ ous microorganisms, and have unique properties, e.g., they are lipophilic and hydrophilic
They can be produced from renewable sources, and they both remain effective under extreme conditions of pH, salinity and temperature
Summary
Surfactants are chemical compounds, characterized by the presence of amphipathic molecules consisting of hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties, which are partitioned preferentially at the interface between fluid phases with different degrees of polarity and hydrogen bonds. The main properties of these compounds are: they reduce surface and interfacial tensions; they have hydrophilicity actions; they are ecologically correct and non‐toxic; they retain their functionality under extreme conditions of pH and temperature, stability, wettability and dispersion (KOSARIC, 2001) In this context, the large chemi‐ cal diversity and diverse properties demonstrate that BS can be applied across a wide range of activities, such as biodegra‐ dation, emulsification, de‐emulsification, and solubilization. This paper generates perspectives on how to face the challenges, especially the need to increase knowledge about biochemical pathways of BS or BE production and to assess the biotechnological potential of fungi (yeasts and filamentous fungi) for producing BS or BE They are a versatile alternative, and it includes the sustainable use of agricultural by‐products in the search for new surfactants with wide applicability and which cost less to produce is included. They promote the dispersion of hydrophobic compounds, which enables them to be applied in different sectors (SILVA et al, 2014; SOUZA AF et al, 2016; SOUZA PM et al, 2016; 2017b; PELE et al, 2018)
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