ABSTRACT

Biosurfactants are a diverse group of surface-active amphipathic molecules that are produced by various bacteria, yeast, and lamentous microorganisms. Despite a long history of production of biosurfactant and bioemulsier from microorganisms, interest in microbial biosurfactant and bioemulsier has been steadily increasing due to their diversity, ecofriendly nature, promising developments in large-scale production, selectivity, effective function in extreme conditions, and wide range of applications (Saharan et al., 2011). Some hypotheses have emerged for physiological roles of biosurfactants due to their very different structures and surface properties. These compounds facilitate microbial growth on hydrophobic water-insoluble substrates by lowering

11.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 165 11.2 Criteria for Search of Patents ............................................................................................. 166 11.3 Patenting Activity .............................................................................................................. 166 11.4 Country of Origin .............................................................................................................. 167 11.5 Nature of Applicants .......................................................................................................... 167 11.6 Commercial Activity .......................................................................................................... 168 11.7 Producer Microorganisms .................................................................................................. 169 11.8 Techniques ......................................................................................................................... 177

11.8.1 New Microbial Producers....................................................................................... 177 11.8.1.1 Screening Methods for Biosurfactant Producers ..................................... 177 11.8.1.2 Genetic Modications .............................................................................. 181

11.8.2 Alternative Substrates ............................................................................................ 181 11.8.3 Efcient Production Processes ............................................................................... 183 11.8.4 Separation and Purication Processes ................................................................... 183

11.9 Application Fields .............................................................................................................. 183 11.9.1 Biomedical .............................................................................................................. 192 11.9.2 Cosmetic ................................................................................................................. 198 11.9.3 Agriculture .............................................................................................................202 11.9.4 Bioremediation .......................................................................................................204 11.9.5 Oil Recovery .......................................................................................................... 210 11.9.6 Detergent ................................................................................................................ 213 11.9.7 Chemical Production and Other Applications ....................................................... 215

11.10 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................220 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................... 221 References ...................................................................................................................................... 222

Patents ................................................................................................................................222