ABSTRACT
Biosurfactants are amphiphilic molecules which tend to lower the interfacial tension. Biosurfactants are amphiphilic compounds produced on living surfaces and contain hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties that reduce surface tension and interfacial tension between individual molecules at the surface and interface respectively. Recent advances in the field of microbial surfactants are largely attributed to the development of quick, reliable methods for screening biosurfactant producing microbes and assessing their potential. The kinds of methods include haemolysis, axisymmetric drop shape analysis, rapid drop collapsing, colorimetry and thin layer chromatography. Biosurfactant activities can be determined by measuring the changes in surface and interfacial tensions, haemolysis activity, stabilization or destabilization of emulsions, and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance. Biosurfactants produced from microorganisms are finding applications in various areas such as Lubricants, Wetting, Softening, Fixing dyes, Emulsion makers, Foaming, Food industries, Biomedical industries, Pharmaceutical industries, Mining and Metallurgy, Agrochemicals and fertilizers and bioremediation of organic and inorganic contaminated sites. Glycolipids and Lipopeptides were developing commercial importance. Biosurfactants have attracted considerable current research interest because of theirlow toxicity, biodegradable nature, cost effective extraction process and diverse structures. The present chapter contains Microbial biosurfactant sources, properties of and various types of Biosurfactants, and their applications in this universe.
