BIOSURFACTANTS

G 11
GROUP MEMBERS :

Nurul Shafikah Binti Muhammad UK19685

Siti Fasihah Binti Rameli UK21478
Fatimah Akmal Binti Yahya UK21497
Nornadia Binti Osman UK21568
Nornabila Binti Osman UK21571
Nor Ella Syakilla Binti Mat Aris UK21597
 surface-active biomolecules that are produced
by a variety of microorganisms.

 They have the properties of reducing surface

tension, stabilising emulsions, promoting foaming
and are generally non-toxic and biodegradable.
 Low molecular  High molecular
mass molecules mass polymer
with lower surface which bind tighly to
and interfacial surfaces
tensions  Major class:
 Major classes: ~ polymeric and
~ glycolipids particulate
~ lipopeptides surfactants
~ phospholipids
glycolipids phospholipids

lipopeptides polymeric
 Lipids with a carbohydrate
attached.
 Made up of carbohydrate in
combination with long chain
aliphatic acids or hydroxyaliphatic
acids.
 Among the glycolipids, the best
known are rhamnolipids,
trehalolipids and sophorolipids.
 A lipid that contains one or
more phosphate groups
 Form major components of
microbial membranes
 Each molecules consists of a
hydrophilic portion and a
hydrophobic portion
 is a molecule consisting of a
lipid attached to a polypeptide
chain.
 A large number of cyclic
lipopetides, including
decapeptide antibiotics and
lipopeptide antibiotics are
produced.
 Eg: surfactin
 The best studied
polymeric biosurfactants
is emulsan.
 Emulsan: very effective
emulsifying agent for
hydrocarbons in water
Environmental factor Carbon substrates
 pH
 Temperature
 Agitation
 Oxygen availability
 Concentration of salt (salinity)
 Sources of carbon substrates for biosurtactant production :

Diesel and crude oil Water soluble compound such as

glucose, sucrose and glycerol
 Biodegradability.

 Generally low toxicity.

 Biocompatibility and digestibility, which allows their

application in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and as
functional food additives.

 Availability of raw materials. Biosurfactants can be

produced from cheap raw materials which are
available in large quantities.
 Acceptable production economics. Depending on the
application, biosurfactants can also be produced from
industrial wastes and byproducts.

 Use in environmental control. Biosurfactants can be

efficiently used in handling industrial emulsions, control
of oil spills, biodegradation and detoxification of industrial
effluents and in bioremediation of contaminated soil.

 Specificity. Biosurfactants being complex organic

molecules with specific functional groups, are often
specific in their action.
 APPLICATIONS OF
BIOSURFACTANT
COSMETICS
 Regarding the mechanisms for preservation of moisture, we
expect

1) the structure resembling ceramide will easily penetrate the

intercellular spaces in the stratum corneum, and

2) it will be effective in moisture retention and maintenance at

the skin intercellular level, as it easily forms liquid crystals .

 Furthermore, as the biosurfactant easily forms capsule of nano-

meter size (liposome), it is easy to mix with other cosmetic
components, which could contribute to stabilization of these
components (capsule protection effect), and improves the
permeability to the skin (capsule affinity effect).
DETERGENT
 One end of the molecule has a long non-polar chain that is
attracted to oil, grease, and dirt (the hydrophobic).

 Another part of the molecule is attracted to water (the

hydrophilic).

 The surfactant lines up at the interface.

 The hydrophobic end of the molecule gets away from the water
and the hydrophilic end stays next to the water.

 When dirt or grease is present (hydrophobic in nature) the

surfactants surround it until it is dislodged from the boundary.

 Notice that the dirt molecules are actually suspended in solution.

 Biosurfactants are surface-active substances
synthesised by living cells which can reduce surface
tension, stabilizing emulsions, promoting foaming
and are generally non-toxic and biodegradable.

 It is used widely in different application.

 Muthusamy, K. et. al., Biosurfactants: Properties,
commercial production and application: Review
articles. Current Science, 2008, 94, 736-745.
 Pattanathu, K.S.M. Rahman and Gakpe, E.,
Production, Characterisation and Application of
Biosufactant: A review. Biotechnology, 2008, 7(2), 360-
370.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosurfactant