ABSTRACT
I. Introduction 392
II. Screening Methods for Biosurfactants among Oil-Degrading Marine Microorganisms 393
III. Microbial Surfactants from Coastal Areas of the Israeli Mediterranean Sea 395 A. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-I: Production of emulsan 395 B. Emulsan characterization: Survey of the literature 400 C. Emulsan: Binding to hydrocarbon interfaces 400 D. A. calcoaceticus RAG-l/emulsan: Application tests 400 E. Phormidium J-l: Production of emulcyan 401
IV. Microbial Surfactants from Coastal Areas of the French Mediterranean Sea 402
V. Microbial Surfactants from the European North Sea 406 A. Arthrobacter sp. EKl: Production of trehalose lipids 407 B. Bacterial strain MMl: Production of a novel glucose lipid 407 C. Arthrobacter sp. SIl: Production of trehalose lipids and of
extracellular emulsifying agents 411 D. Properties of glycolipids and emulsifiers 412 E. Field tests of biosurfactants in combat of oil pollution in
the Wadden Sea 412
VI. Conclusion 414
References 414 391
392 Lang and Wagner
The most important sources of oil input into the world oceans are the following[1]:
Marine transportation Tanker accidents Coastal oil refineries Offshore oil production Industrial and municipal waste River runoff Urban runoff Natural seep Atmospheric rainout
In the last several years, special attention has focused on the tanker accidents of "Amoco Cadiz" (223,000 tons of crude oil were spilled at the Bretonic coast, 1983) and of "Exxon Valdez" (40,000 tons, Alaska, 1989) as well as on the premeditated input of about 1,500,000 tons of oil into the Persian Gulf (1991) by Iraq. This pollution exhibits a dramatic damaging effect upon plants, birds, and sea animals and also involves incalculable consequences all over the world.
