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Fermentation
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The Industrial Feasibility of Biosurfactants
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The Industrial Feasibility of Biosurfactants

A special issue of Fermentation (ISSN 2311-5637). This special issue belongs to the section "Industrial Fermentation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 9349

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Cristiano José De Andrade

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemical and Food Engineering Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil
Interests: biosurfactants; algae; mass spectrometry; petroleum; chemical engineering; food engineering; bioreactor; bacterial fermentation; biosurfactant production
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biosurfactants are surface-active compounds produced by microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi. They have gained significant attention due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and environmental compatibility compared to synthetic surfactants. The production of biosurfactants involves the fermentation process, where microorganisms are cultivated in a nutrient-rich media. The choice of microorganism and medium composition, including carbon and nitrogen sources, influences the yield and properties of the biosurfactants produced. Common methods for extracting and purifying biosurfactants include solvent extraction, precipitation, and chromatographic techniques. Biosurfactants have a wide range of applications across various industries. In the petroleum industry, they can be used for microbial-enhanced oil recovery and the bioremediation of oil spills, since they significantly reduce surface and interfacial tension. In the food industry, they can be used as emulsifying agents, stabilizing blends of water and oil in products such as sauces and dressings. Biosurfactants are also valuable in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, where they function as emulsifiers, foaming agents, and wetting agents in formulations such as creams, lotions, and shampoos. Additionally, in the agricultural sector, they are utilized for biocontrol against plant pathogens and in eco-friendly pesticide formulations. The versatility and sustainability of biosurfactants continue to drive research and innovation in their production and application. Therefore, this Special Issue is focused on, but not limited to, the production of biosurfactants, including yields, purification, culture medium composition, scale-up, etc.

Prof. Dr. Cristiano José De Andrade
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fermentation is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • glycolipids
  • rhamnolipids
  • sophorolipids
  • mannosylerythritol lipids
  • lipopeptides and lipoproteins
  • surfactin
  • polymeric biosurfactants

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 7298 KB  
Article
Candida utilis Biosurfactant from Licuri Oil: Influence of Culture Medium and Emulsion Stability in Food Applications
by Lívia Xavier de Araújo, Peterson Felipe Ferreira da Silva, Renata Raianny da Silva, Leonie Asfora Sarubbo, Jorge Luíz Silveira Sonego and Jenyffer Medeiros Campos Guerra
Fermentation 2025, 11(12), 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11120679 - 5 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 675
Abstract
Biosurfactants (BSs) are natural, biodegradable compounds crucial for replacing synthetic emulsifiers in the food industry, provided their production costs can be reduced through the use of sustainable and low-cost substrates. This study evaluated the viability of licuri oil as a carbon source for [...] Read more.
Biosurfactants (BSs) are natural, biodegradable compounds crucial for replacing synthetic emulsifiers in the food industry, provided their production costs can be reduced through the use of sustainable and low-cost substrates. This study evaluated the viability of licuri oil as a carbon source for BS production by Candida utilis and assessed the product’s functional stability in food formulations. Production kinetics confirmed the yeast’s efficiency, reducing the water surface tension to a minimum of 31.55 mN·m−1 at 120 h. Factorial screening identified a high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio as the key factor influencing ST reduction. The isolated BS demonstrated high surface activity, with a Critical Micelle Concentration of 0.9 g·L−1. Furthermore, the cell-free broth maintained excellent emulsifying activity (E24 > 70%) against canola and motor oils across extreme pH, temperature, and salinity conditions. Twelve mayonnaise-type dressings were formulated, utilizing licuri oil, and tested for long-term physical stability. Six formulations, featuring the BS in combination with lecithin and/or egg yolk, remained stable without phase segregation after 240 days of refrigeration, maintaining a stable pH and suitable microbiological conditions for human consumption. The findings confirm that the valorization of licuri oil provides a route to produce a highly efficient and robust BS, positioning it as a promising co-stabilizer for enhancing the shelf-life and natural appeal of complex food emulsions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Industrial Feasibility of Biosurfactants)
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17 pages, 3060 KB  
Article
Bacillus subtilis Genome Reduction Improves Surfactin Production
by Vitória Fernanda Bertolazzi Zocca, Fabiane de Oliveira Barban, Guilherme Engelberto Kundlatsch, Leonardo Ferro Tavares, Flávio Pereira Picheli, Adriana Candido da Silva Moura and Danielle Biscaro Pedrolli
Fermentation 2025, 11(9), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11090508 - 30 Aug 2025
Viewed by 2643
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis ∆6 is a genome-reduced strain derived from the laboratory strain 168 through deletion of six prophages and AT-rich islands. The parental and the genome-reduced strains were edited to restore the capacity to synthesize surfactin. Although the genome deletions are not directly [...] Read more.
Bacillus subtilis ∆6 is a genome-reduced strain derived from the laboratory strain 168 through deletion of six prophages and AT-rich islands. The parental and the genome-reduced strains were edited to restore the capacity to synthesize surfactin. Although the genome deletions are not directly related to surfactin biosynthesis, the ∆6 strain produces more surfactin while building lower biomass compared to the parental strain. Further editions to ∆6, such as srfA promoter replacement, codY deletion, and comA overexpression, were deleterious to surfactin production. The results showcase that the ∆6 is metabolically distinct from its parental strain and other surfactin-producing strains, as the gene editions made have been previously described to increase surfactin production in these strains. The ∆6 produced the highest surfactin titer, rate, and yield in LB medium enriched with glucose, compared to other commonly used media for B. subtilis. This work demonstrates the enhanced capacity of a genome-reduced strain to produce surfactin compared to the parental strain, as well as the metabolic changes resulting from genome engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Industrial Feasibility of Biosurfactants)
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16 pages, 931 KB  
Article
Production and Characterization of a Novel Glycolipid Biosurfactant from Bradyrhizobium sp.
by Marcos André Moura Dias, Eduardo Luiz Rossini, Douglas de Britto and Marcia Nitschke
Fermentation 2025, 11(8), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11080471 - 15 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1402
Abstract
Biosurfactants (BS) are surface-active compounds synthesized by microorganisms with broad industrial applications. Although BS-producing strains are widely reported, little is known about their production by diazotrophic bacteria. This study investigated, for the first time, the BS produced by Bradyrhizobium sp. ESA 81, a [...] Read more.
Biosurfactants (BS) are surface-active compounds synthesized by microorganisms with broad industrial applications. Although BS-producing strains are widely reported, little is known about their production by diazotrophic bacteria. This study investigated, for the first time, the BS produced by Bradyrhizobium sp. ESA 81, a diazotrophic bacterium isolated from the Brazilian semiarid region. The strain was cultivated in the mineral medium using sunflower oil and ammonium nitrate as carbon and nitrogen sources. The compound was chemically characterized using TLC, FAME, FTIR, and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). The results revealed a mixture of glycolipids composed of trehalose linked to fatty acid chains ranging from C9 to C18. The BS exhibited a surface tension of 31.8 mN/m, a critical micelle concentration of 61.2 mg/L, and an interfacial tension of 22.1 mN/m. The BS also showed an emulsification index (EI24) of 55.0%. High stability was observed under extreme conditions of temperature (−20 to 121 °C), pH (2–12), NaCl (5–20%), and sucrose (1–5%). These findings indicate that the trehalolipid BS produced by Bradyrhizobium sp. ESA 81 is a stable and efficient surface-active agent, with promising potential for use in biotechnological and industrial processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Industrial Feasibility of Biosurfactants)
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21 pages, 1458 KB  
Article
Production of a Biosurfactant for Application in the Cosmetics Industry
by Ana Paula Barbosa Cavalcanti, Gleice Paula de Araújo, Káren Gercyane de Oliveira Bezerra, Fabíola Carolina Gomes de Almeida, Maria da Glória Conceição da Silva, Alessandra Sarubbo, Cláudio José Galdino da Silva Júnior, Rita de Cássia Freire Soares da Silva and Leonie Asfora Sarubbo
Fermentation 2025, 11(8), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11080451 - 2 Aug 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3183
Abstract
The cosmetics industry has been seeking to develop products with renewable natural ingredients to reduce the use of or even replace synthetic substances. Biosurfactants can help meet this demand. These natural compounds are renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic or have low toxicity, offering minimal [...] Read more.
The cosmetics industry has been seeking to develop products with renewable natural ingredients to reduce the use of or even replace synthetic substances. Biosurfactants can help meet this demand. These natural compounds are renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic or have low toxicity, offering minimal risk to humans and the environment, which has attracted the interest of an emerging consumer market and, consequently, the cosmetics industry. The aim of the present study was to produce a biosurfactant from the yeast Starmerella bombicola ATCC 22214 cultivated in a mineral medium containing 10% soybean oil and 5% glucose. The biosurfactant reduced the surface tension of water from 72.0 ± 0.1 mN/m to 33.0 ± 0.3 mN/m after eight days of fermentation. The yield was 53.35 ± 0.39 g/L and the critical micelle concentration was 1000 mg/L. The biosurfactant proved to be a good emulsifier of oils used in cosmetic formulations, with emulsification indices ranging from 45.90 ± 1.69% to 68.50 ± 1.10%. The hydrophilic–lipophilic balance index demonstrated the wetting capacity of the biosurfactant and its tendency to form oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, with 50.0 ± 0.20% foaming capacity. The biosurfactant did not exhibit cytotoxicity in the MTT assay or irritant potential. Additionally, an antioxidant activity of 58.25 ± 0.32% was observed at a concentration of 40 mg/mL. The compound also exhibited antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic microorganisms. The characterisation of the biosurfactant using magnetic nuclear resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the biomolecule is a glycolipid with an anionic nature. The results demonstrate that biosurfactant produced in this work has potential as an active biotechnological ingredient for innovative, eco-friendly cosmetic formulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Industrial Feasibility of Biosurfactants)
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Review

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28 pages, 1345 KB  
Review
Integrated Enzymatic and Fermentative Pathways for Next-Generation Biosurfactants: Advances in Process Design, Functionalization, and Industrial Scale-Up
by Renato Dias Matosinhos, Juliano Moura Cascaes, Djulienni Karoline Bin Gerloff, Debora de Oliveira, Alcilene Rodrigues Monteiro, Hállen Daniel Rezende Calado and Cristiano José de Andrade
Fermentation 2026, 12(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation12010031 - 5 Jan 2026
Viewed by 893
Abstract
The global change toward sustainable manufacturing has intensified the development of alternatives to petrochemical-based surfactants, which are environmentally recalcitrant and fossil dependent. Biosurfactants have emerged as the most promising petrochemical-based surfactant substitutes, due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and robust performance under extreme [...] Read more.
The global change toward sustainable manufacturing has intensified the development of alternatives to petrochemical-based surfactants, which are environmentally recalcitrant and fossil dependent. Biosurfactants have emerged as the most promising petrochemical-based surfactant substitutes, due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and robust performance under extreme conditions; however, their industrial use is hindered by high production costs, limited productivity, and complex downstream processing, for instance high protein content can make the ultrafiltration (downstream strategy) unfeasible. This review critically examines recent advances in integrated bioprocess design to overcoming these constraints, with particular emphasis on the convergence of enzymatic catalysis and microbial fermentation. Comparative assessment across key biosurfactant classes demonstrates that tailored enzymatic transformations, enabled by lipases, glycosyltransferases, acyltransferases, and oxidoreductases, offer precision in structural modification unattainable through fermentation alone, enabling programmable amphiphilicity and improved functional performance. Thus, the translation of enzymatic and hybrid routes to industry remains restricted by enzyme stability, cofactor regeneration, and process engineering challenges. Emerging strategies such as continuous fermentation, in situ product recovery, and machine learning-based process control show strong potential to enhance productivity and reduce energy demands. By integrating molecular design, metabolic engineering, and intensified bioprocessing, this review delineates a strategic framework for advancing next-generation biosurfactants toward commercial viability within circular and sustainable value chains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Industrial Feasibility of Biosurfactants)
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