ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION Surfactants constitute an important class of industrial chemicals widely used in almost every sector of modern industry, with the worldwide production output exceeding 3 million tonnes per annum and an estimated market value of U.S. $4 billion [1]. To satisfy this hugely diverse market a large variety of individual compounds and blends are available commercially from more than 200 companies worldwide. Due to the sheer volumes of detergents required, the synthesis of surfactants has traditionally been considered solely within the capabilities of organic chemistry. However, rapid advances in biotechnology over the last decade have led to considerable interest in the development of biological methods of manufacturing, i.e., the application of biological catalysts in the form of microorganisms or isolated enzymes [2]. Increased environmental awareness of the consumer has provided a further impetus for more serious consideration of "biological" surfactants as possible alternatives to existing formulations. Thus, the biodegradability and toxicity of industrial detergents have become almost as important an issue as the functional performance of the products. Similarly, more stringent regulations are being introduced in the food industry to minimize the adverse allergic effects of artificial additives, including emulsifiers.
