Biosurfactants: Sustainable and Versatile Molecules for Industrial and Environmental Applications

Abstract

Biosurfactants are amphiphilic compounds mainly generated by microorganisms, comprising both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts that position themselves at liquid–liquid, liquid–gas, or liquid–solid interfaces. Their distinctive properties enable them to facilitate emulsification, detergency, and dispersion, making them precious across various industrial applications. Biosurfactants are synthesized by a variety of microorganisms and have some unique advantages over synthetic surfactants, such as mild production requirements, greater biodegradability, and lower toxicity during the microbial synthesis of active compounds. Because they can decrease surface tension, stabilize emulsions, and upgrade biodegradation, they are increasingly in demand as substitutes for chemical surfactants in both research and practical applications. In the food industry, biosurfactants are commonly employed as formulation ingredients and anti-adhesive agents, functioning as emulsifiers, de-emulsifiers, foaming agents, and detergents, with further uses in agriculture, industrial processes, and environmental recreation. The article discusses the potential applications of biosurfactants in the food and agricultural field, along with current efforts to decrease their production cost by using unconventional waste materials as substrates.