Production of biosurfactant by marine pseudomonas spp. and its characterisation

Abstract

The production of rhamnolipid usmg renewable resources especially the agro­ industrial wastes are more preferred compared to chemically synthesise surfactants. As in the findings from this study, four carbon sources namely glycerol, sweetwater, molasses and glycerin pitch were used for rharnnolipid production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAOl and Pseudomonas putida KT2440. Conditions of biosynthesis involving carbon to nitrogen ratios ( excess of carbon sources and nitrogen source limitation) were conducted in order to enhance the productivity of rhamnolipid. The rharnnolipid concentration was determined using colorimetric orcinol assay. Result showed that P. aeruginosa worked best at C/N ratio 40 in glycerol and sweetwater (6.87 g/L and 0.67 g/L respectively), C/N ratio of 30 in molasses (0.36 g/L) whereas P. putida worked best in C/N ratio 50 in glycerol (0.51 g/L), C/N ratio 30 in sweetwater (0.29 g/L) and 40 in molasses (0.33 g/L). P. aeruginosa produce more rharnnolipid concentration (1.47 g/L) using glycerin pitch compared to P. putida (0.46 g/L). From these result, it can be said that the rharnnolipid production using renewable carbon sources will be a good approach in proper waste management and bioconversion of by-products into value added materials.