Chapter 18 - Biosurfactants for environmental health and safety

Abstract

The use of synthetic surfactants causes immense environmental impacts due to the high toxicity and low biodegradability, which contributes to the destruction of different forms of aquatic life, adverse effects on wastewater treatment and reduction of the photochemical energy conversion in plants. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternatives that contribute to less adverse environmental effects, and inevitably this environmentally safe approach arouses interest in sustainable biological techniques. In this context, the use of biosurfactants reflects the advancing and improving 21st-century environmental sustainability. The application of biosurfactants has some aspects to be explored that contribute positively to environmental health and safety. First, biosurfactants have an excellent bioremediation capacity. As it is an ecologically correct and economically viable method, they are among the most promising applications for restoring contaminated environments, cleaning or removing pollutants productively, and financially supportable. In addition, biosurfactants have beneficial effects on the relationship between plant and soil, contributing to the absorption of biogenic substances by plants, protecting and stimulating seed germination. Furthermore, biosurfactants have a significant role in using renewable by-products as substrates, resulting in the potential reduction of these wastes in the environment and contributing to a sustainable circular economy. Therefore, biosurfactants can potentially replace synthetic chemical surfactants, as they are produced at a lower cost, meet large-scale production, and have enhanced environmentally friendly characteristics. This chapter discusses the usefulness of biosurfactants in applications that contribute to environmental health and safety.