abstract
Background: Surface active compounds produced by microorganisms are attracting a pronounced interest due to their potential advantages over their synthetic counterparts, and to the fact that they could replace some of the synthetics in many environmental and industrial applications. Results: Bioemulsifier production by a Paenibacillus sp. strain isolated from crude oil was studied. The bioemulsifier was produced using sucrose with and without adding hydrocarbons (paraffin or crude oil) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions at 40 degrees C. It formed stable emulsions with several hydrocarbons and its emulsifying ability was not affected by exposure to high salinities (up to 300 g/l), high temperatures (100 degrees C-121 degrees C) or a wide range of pH values (2-13). In addition, it presented low toxicity and high biodegradability when compared with chemical surfactants. A preliminary chemical characterization by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR and C-13 CP-MAS NMR) and size exclusion chromatography indicated that the bioemulsifier is a low molecular weight oligosaccharide-lipid complex. Conclusion: The production of a low molecular weight bioemulsifier by a novel Paenibacillus strain isolated from crude oil was reported. To the best of our knowledge, bioemulsifier production by Paenibacillus strains has not been previously reported. The features of this novel bioemulsifier make it an interesting biotechnological product for many environmental and industrial applications.
keywords
BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCTION; ACINETOBACTER RADIORESISTENS; POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS; EMULSIFYING ACTIVITY; RECOVERY; SURFACTANTS; BIODEGRADATION; MICROORGANISMS; OPTIMIZATION; PURIFICATION
subject category
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
authors
Gudina, EJ; Pereira, JFB; Costa, R; Evtuguin, DV; Coutinho, JAP; Teixeira, JA; Rodrigues, LR
our authors
Ana Rita Dias da Costa
Research Fellowship
Dmitry Evtyugin
Associate Professor with Aggregation
Jorge Fernando Brandão Pereira
PhD Studentacknowledgements
This work was supported by PARTEX OIL AND GAS. The authors thank the FCT Strategic Project PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013. Jorge F. B. Pereira acknowledges the financial support from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia through doctoral research grant SFRH/BD/60228/2009.