Abstract
Endophytic and epiphytic fungi isolated from Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms and Cyperus ligularis L., macrophytes collected from oil-contaminated waters, were studied to assess their potential for producing biosurfactants; the most promising ones were identified by means of the rDNA region sequencing. In the selection, in the hydrocarbonate biodegradation activity, 2.6-indophenol (DCPIP) in oil-added Bushnell-Haas (BH) medium was the indicator used. The following tests were performed to ascertain the biosurfactant, bioemulsifier activity: emulsification measurement, drop-collapse, surface tension and production slope. Of the twenty fungi isolated, six promoted DCPIP discoloration. The isolate (S31) Phoma sp. showed emulsification of diesel (1.5 cm or 52%) and reduction of the surface tension of 51.03 mN/m water identified as Phoma sp. The other five fungi were identified as Rhizopus oryzae (S24), Fusarium sp. (S32, S33, S42, S46), presenting potential for biodegradation of hydrocarbons, as well. New studies on Phoma sp. (S31), including its cultivation in different carbon sources will be necessary to improve the production of secondary compounds involved in surface tension bioemulsification and reduction. Key words: Bioremediation, bioemulsifiers, Eichhornia, Cyperus, oil, diesel.
Highlights
IntroductionBiosurfactants may be of microbial origin and show potential for commercial applications in several fields
Endophytic and epiphytic fungi isolated from Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms and Cyperus ligularis L., macrophytes collected from oil-contaminated waters, were studied to assess their potential for producing biosurfactants; the most promising ones were identified by means of the rDNA region sequencing
The microorganisms were isolated from the macrophytes: Cyperus ligularis L. and Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms collected near the effluent output from a Petrobras/Manaus-AM (REMAN) refinery, and stored according to Castellani (1939)
Summary
Biosurfactants may be of microbial origin and show potential for commercial applications in several fields. They possess potential applications in agriculture, raw materials for cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, detergents, personal hygiene products and food processing, among others (Sourav et al, 2015). They are more advantageous than the synthetic-derived ones when considering their biodegradability and low toxicity
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