Applications of a lipopeptide biosurfactant, surfactin, produced by microorganisms

Surfactin, one of the most powerful biosurfactants, is a lipopeptide-type biosurfactant that is generated by the gram-positive, endospore-producing, microorganism, Bacillus subtilis. The chemical structure of surfactin is composed of seven amino acids that are bonded to the carboxyl and hydroxy groups on long chain fatty acids (C₁₃-C₁₅). The potential applications of surfactin are therapeutic applications, and environmental applications. However, the high cost of surfactin production and its low yields limit its range of commercial applications. This work therefore develops the natural production a surface active agent by microorganisms and evaluates the microbial production system, the purification process, the identification process and the potential applications of surfactin.