BIOSURFACTANT: CLASSIFICATION, APPLICATION, ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES AND FACTORS AFFECTING ITS PRODUCTION

Abstract

Biosurfactants are amphiphilic biological substances that are produced from sugars, oils, and waste products by a range of bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi either extracellularly or as a component of cell membranes. Based on molecular weight, they are classified as either highmolecular-mass or low-molecular-mass bioemulsifiers, such as glycolipids and lipopeptides, which lower interfacial tension between two liquids. Lower toxicity, greater biodegradability, biocompatibility, endurance to high pH and temperature, and a potential to be produced from inexpensive raw materials are some of the main advantages over synthetic surfactants. Biosurfactants are used in the areas of bioremediation, increased oil recovery, agriculture, food processing, cosmetics, and medicine to improve emulsification, pollutant bioavailability, and antimicrobial efficacy. High manufacturing costs, challenges in purification, poor regulatory frameworks, and foam formation during fermentation are some of their main disadvantages. Despite these benefits, improved process optimization and cost-effective large-scale production remain essential for wider industrial application.