Optimizing biosurfactant production through cost effectiveness and precision approaches

Abstract

Biosurfactants (BSs) are surface-active compounds synthesized by several microbes, serving as a sustainable substitute for chemical surfactants due to their non-toxicity, biodegradability and environmental-friendliness. They have garnered considerable attention owing to their broad applications in the agricultural, environmental, food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Their wide applications in industries have been hindered due to the higher cost of production and low yield. Though the yield and production efficiency of BSs have significantly improved through the advancement and optimisation of diverse process parameters. Efforts have been made to reduce production costs by using byproducts of agricultural, food, and animal industries. This approach not only reduces production costs but also supports waste valorization and promotes the circular-bioeconomy. Further, specific statistical tools were employed to optimize the production parameters, such as substrate concentration, pH, temperature, etc., which significantly improve the yield and reduce the cost of production. This review discusses utilizing low-cost, waste raw substrates and statistical approaches used in optimizing BS production processes.