The Use of Biosurfactants in the Bioremediation of Oil Spills in Water

Abstract

Biosurfactants have been extensively used in a broad range of applications due to their low toxicity and ease of preparation. These characteristics facilitate their increased application in many bioremediation processes involving hydrocarbon pollution in both water resources and land. The use of biosurfactants for oil spills cleanup or enhanced oil recovery involves a reduction of the polar and nonpolar interfacial layer resulting in the emulsification of the oil. The stability of the emulsification process is due to a decrease in interfacial tension between the two immiscible layers by the biosurfactants. This process can be achieved through bio-stimulation of biosurfactant compounds in an oil spill-affected area or water resources. Several laboratory studies have demonstrated that adding a consortium of biosurfactants may be useful for stimulating biodegradation of hydrocarbon contaminants in any affected existing water source. These microbial molecules are further useful in emulsification and removal of oil from sludge in oil storage tanks. This review, therefore, presents how biosurfactant molecules are produced, their advantages, various microbes producing biosurfactants, how they enhanced remediation of oil spills, and lastly their suspected toxicity during their application.