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Biological surface-active compounds from marine bacteria.

Nga Phuong Dang1, Bjarne Landfald2, Nils Peder Willassen3

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Environmental Technology
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Summary

Marine bacteria from Norwegian petroleum-contaminated sites were screened for biosurfactant production. Two Rhodococcus strains demonstrated significant surface tension reduction, indicating potential for environmentally friendly biosurfactant applications.

Keywords:
Surface-active compoundbiosurfactantmarine bacteriapetroleum hydrocarbonssurface tension

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Environmental Science
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Surface-active compounds (SACs) are essential in various industries but raise environmental concerns.
  • Biodegradable and less toxic biological SACs (biosurfactants) are gaining attention as eco-friendly alternatives.
  • Marine environments, particularly petroleum-contaminated sites, are rich sources of microorganisms with unique metabolic capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and screen marine hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria for biosurfactant production.
  • To identify bacterial strains capable of significantly reducing surface tension and/or emulsifying hydrocarbons.
  • To characterize the biosurfactant-producing capabilities of promising isolates, including Rhodococcus strains.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of 176 marine bacterial strains from petroleum-contaminated Norwegian coastal sites.
  • Screening for surface tension reduction (≥20 mN m⁻¹) and emulsion stability (≥40% after 24h).
  • Cultivation on glucose or kerosene as carbon sources, followed by characterization of two potent Rhodococcus strains (LF-13 and LF-22).

Main Results:

  • Eighteen bacterial isolates exhibited significant surface activity or emulsification capabilities.
  • These isolates belonged to genera including Pseudomonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Rhodococcus, and others.
  • Rhodococcus sp. LF-13 and LF-22 demonstrated substantial surface tension reduction (>40 mN m⁻¹) on various carbon sources, including kerosene and rapeseed oil.
  • Biosurfactant production by resting cells of Rhodococcus strains suggests it's not strictly growth-dependent on hydrocarbons.

Conclusions:

  • Marine bacteria, particularly Rhodococcus species, are promising sources of effective biosurfactants.
  • The identified Rhodococcus strains offer potential for developing sustainable and environmentally friendly surface-active compounds.
  • Biosurfactant production by resting cells highlights a flexible metabolic pathway in these marine bacteria.