Work

Isolation and Functional Characterization of a Lipopeptide Biosurfactant From a Novel Novosphingobium lentum TR17 Strain With Potential for Industrial and Bioremediation Applications

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Biosurfactant-producing bacteria were isolated from used lubricating oil (ULO)-contaminated soil in Phuket and Trang, southern Thailand. Screening for biosurfactant production was conducted using surface tension reduction and emulsification activity. The highest surface tension reduction was observed in a strain identified as Novosphingobium lentum TR17 using 16S rRNA gene analysis. The selected strain demonstrated optimal biosurfactant production using glucose and commercial monosodium glutamate as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. After 60 h of cultivation, the biosurfactant yield reached 5.30 g/L, with a surface tension reduction from 72 to 25 mN/m. The biosurfactant, recovered using a chloroform:methanol solvent system, exhibited thermal and pH stability, a low critical micelle concentration (9 mg/L), and high emulsification activity. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrometry confirmed its lipopeptide nature. Additionally, the crude biosurfactant demonstrated antibacterial properties and enhanced the solubility of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), suggesting its potential for bioremediation and industrial applications.

Source: Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry

DOI: 10.1002/bab.2788

Authors: Atipan Saimmai, Suppasil Maneerat, Wiboon Riansa‐Ngawong, Kattinat Sagulsawasdipan, Chanika Saenge Chooklin

Institutions: Phuket Rajabhat University, Prince of Songkla University, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya

Language: English

Topic: Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya