Rhamnolipids Biosurfactants from Pseudomonas Aeruginosa - A Review

Jaciara Araújo, Juliene Rocha, Marcos Oliveira Filho, Stephanie Matias, Sérgio Oliveira Júnior, Carlos Padilha and Everaldo Santos

Chemical Engineering Department – Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Candelária, Natal, Brazil.

Corresponding Author E-mail: everaldo@eq.ufrn.br

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2685

ABSTRACT: Studies addressing for ecological compatible products have been increased along time, especially, on biosurfactant field. Biosurfactants are extracellular amphiphilic compound that are mainly produced by microorganisms and are classified into five main groups, including the glycolipids one. Rhamnolipids are included in the latter and are anionic biosurfactants produced predominantly by Pseudomonas aeruginosa being classified as mono- and di-rhamnolipids. In addition, their production may occur from different carbon sources, which may be obtained from renewable and low-cost residue. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the rhamnolipids production cost, since this has been the main bottleneck for replacing the chemical surfactants. In addition, to meeting a bona fide industrial application some limitations such as low productivity as well as recovery and/or purification that represent from 60 to 80% of total production cost should be improved. Therefore, this review covers different ways for producing rhamnolipids covering their application in many fields such as pharmaceutical, agricultural, petrochemical and so on; demonstrating the versatility of these biological compounds.

KEYWORDS: Agro-Industrial Waste; Application; Rhamnolipid; Synthesis

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