Biosurfactant

[3] As a secondary metabolite of microorganisms, biosurfactants can be processed by the cultivation of biosurfactant producing microorganisms in the stationary phase on many sorts of low-priced substrates like biochar, plant oils, carbohydrates, wastes, etc.

High-level production of biosurfactants can be controlled by regulation of environmental factors and growth circumstances.

Like synthetic surfactants, they are composed of a hydrophilic moiety made up of amino acids, peptides, (poly)saccharides, or sugar alcohols and a hydrophobic moiety consisting of fatty acids.

[8] Potential applications include herbicides and pesticides formulations, detergents, healthcare and cosmetics, pulp and paper, coal, textiles, ceramic processing and food industries, uranium ore-processing, and mechanical dewatering of peat.

[11] These compounds can also be used in enhanced oil recovery and may be considered for other potential applications in environmental protection.

Phosphatidylcholine , also known as lecithin, is a pervasive biological surfactant. Shown in red – choline and phosphate group; black – glycerol ; green – monounsaturated fatty acid ; blue – saturated fatty acid .