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Biosurfactants: Chemical Properties, Ecofriendly Environmental Applications, and Uses in the Industrial Energy Sector

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  • Yslla Emanuelly da Silva Faccioli

    (Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Universidade Federal Rural Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n—Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
    Instituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, Brazil
    Escola de Tecnologia e Comunicação, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, n. 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, Brazil)

  • Kaio Wêdann de Oliveira

    (Instituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, Brazil
    Escola de Tecnologia e Comunicação, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, n. 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, Brazil)

  • Jenyffer Medeiros Campos-Guerra

    (Departamento de Engenharia Química, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50670-901, Brazil)

  • Attilio Converti

    (Instituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, Brazil
    Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Pole of Chemical Engineering, University of Genoa (UNIGE), Via Opera Pia 15, 16145 Genoa, Italy)

  • Rita de Cássia F. Soares da Silva

    (Instituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, Brazil)

  • Leonie A. Sarubbo

    (Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Universidade Federal Rural Pernambuco (UFRPE), Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n—Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Brazil
    Instituto Avançado de Tecnologia e Inovação (IATI), Rua Potyra, n. 31, Prado, Recife 50751-310, Brazil
    Escola de Tecnologia e Comunicação, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco (UNICAP), Rua do Príncipe, n. 526, Boa Vista, Recife 50050-900, Brazil)

Abstract

The exploitation of nature and the increase in manufacturing production are the cause of major environmental concerns, and considerable efforts are needed to resolve such issues. Oil and petroleum derivatives constitute the primary energy sources used in industries. However, the transportation and use of these products have huge environmental impacts. A significant issue with oil-related pollution is that hydrocarbons are highly toxic and have low biodegradability, posing a risk to ecosystems and biodiversity. Thus, there has been growing interest in the use of renewable compounds from natural sources. Biosurfactants are amphipathic microbial biomolecules emerging as sustainable alternatives with beneficial characteristics, including biodegradability and low toxicity. Biosurfactants and biosurfactant-producing microorganisms serve as an ecologically correct bioremediation strategy for ecosystems polluted by hydrocarbons. Moreover, synthetic surfactants can constitute additional recalcitrant contaminants introduced into the environment, leading to undesirable outcomes. The replacement of synthetic surfactants with biosurfactants can help solve such problems. Thus, there has been growing interest in the use of biosurfactants in a broad gamut of industrial sectors. The purpose of this review was to furnish a comprehensive view of biosurfactants, classifications, properties, and applications in the environmental and energy fields. In particular, practical applications of biosurfactants in environmental remediation are discussed, with special focus on bioremediation, removal of heavy metals, phytoremediation, microbial enhanced oil recovery, metal corrosion inhibition, and improvements in agriculture. The review also describes innovating decontamination methods, including nanobioremediation, use of genetically modified microorganisms, enzymatic bioremediation, modeling and prototyping, biotechnology, and process engineering. Research patents and market prospects are also discussed to illustrate trends in environmental and industrial applications of biosurfactants.

Suggested Citation

  • Yslla Emanuelly da Silva Faccioli & Kaio Wêdann de Oliveira & Jenyffer Medeiros Campos-Guerra & Attilio Converti & Rita de Cássia F. Soares da Silva & Leonie A. Sarubbo, 2024. "Biosurfactants: Chemical Properties, Ecofriendly Environmental Applications, and Uses in the Industrial Energy Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-34, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:20:p:5042-:d:1496018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Naif Abdullah Al-Dhabi & Galal Ali Esmail & Mariadhas Valan Arasu, 2020. "Enhanced Production of Biosurfactant from Bacillus subtilis Strain Al-Dhabi-130 under Solid-State Fermentation Using Date Molasses from Saudi Arabia for Bioremediation of Crude-Oil-Contaminated Soils," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-20, November.
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