Chapter 16 - Advantages of biosurfactants over petroleum-based surfactants

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter focuses is to present the main advantages of biosurfactants over petroleum-based surfactants. Surfactants are amphipathic organic compounds with emulsifying activity capable of reducing surface tension of liquids or interfaces of liquids, endowed by its hydrophobic tail and hydrophilic head. Several types of surfactants are widely used in our daily lives, being present in personal hygiene products, domestic or industrial detergents, cosmetics, and in some processed foods. Most synthetic surfactants can be synthesized by chemical route are derived from the petrochemical industry and can therefore be produced at a low cost and high yield. However, synthetic surfactants frequently have toxicity and biocompatibility problems, and their use is limited because of their negative impact on the ecosystem. On the other hand, biosurfactants are biological compounds produced extracellularly or as part of the cell membrane by a variety of bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi, from various substances including sugars, oils, and wastes. Biosurfactants have several advantages over the chemical surfactants, such as higher biodegradability, lower toxicity, pH-hardy, better environmental compatibility, higher foaming ability, higher selectivity, and specific activity at extreme temperatures. In addition, the by-products generated during the production of biosurfactants are nontoxic. Synthetic surfactants are more economically viable, however, when compared to biosurfactants, cause greater environmental impact. Thus, biosurfactants constitute a promising alternative to the commercial chemical surfactants with potential use in several industries.